LeBron Is 'King on the Chessboard' and 76ers Are Favorites to Win Title, Says NBA Legend Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo knows what it takes to reach the NBA mountaintop as a two-time champion himself, and he believes LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers are well positioned to do just that during the 2026-27 season.

"Brilliant move," he said during an appearance on the Road Trippin' Show when talking about James' decision to join the 76ers. "… LeBron is the king on the chessboard. He's got all the right pieces to make the right moves. We all know he's one of the greatest basketball minds to play the game.

"If you give him these types of pieces to play with, I'm an early bet with them being the favorites to win. I'm not a bettor, but if I was to bet, I would bet the Sixers early."

Rondo pointed out that having James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey all on the same team means the King won't have to tax himself physically during the regular season.

That could keep him fresher for the playoffs, where he can then control the game from the mental side and put his star teammates in position to succeed.

While James is one of the best players in NBA history and doesn't have much else to prove, Embiid and Maxey are still looking for their first championships. What's more, Brown was under the spotlight throughout the offseason thanks to his trade from the Boston Celtics, which means there should be no shortage of motivation in Philadelphia.

"A nice combination of guys that have a lot of fuel in the fire left to prove something this year," Rondo said of James' supporting cast.

The former Celtics point guard made a compelling argument in Philadelphia's favor, but James and Co. aren't the favorites to win the title. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites at +230 (bet $100 to win $230).

They are followed by the San Antonio Spurs (+280) and New York Knicks (+950) with the 76ers checking in fourth (+1,000).

But James has overcome the odds throughout his legendary career, including when he famously led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 3-1 comeback against the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.

Him helping the 76ers overcome the reigning-champion Knicks in the Eastern Conference and then defeating a Western Conference powerhouse such as the Thunder or Spurs could be in play, especially if Maxey, Embiid and Brown all stay healthy and play to their potential.

That is exactly what Rondo, who saw what James can do firsthand while winning a championship as his teammate on the 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers, believes is going to happen.