​Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports76ers news: Shaq sets ruthless expectation for LeBron James & Philly appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Philadelphia 76ers made waves earlier in the offseason when they pulled off the marquee signing of LeBron James, beating out other interested parties for the signature of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. The addition of James makes what was already a stacked 76ers roster even more loaded with top-shelf talent, as the 41-year-old star is joining the Big Three of Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid.Suffice to say, the expectations are through the roof for the 76ers. And for James’ former teammate, Shaquille O’Neal, anything short of a championship would be a disappointment for Philly.“Championship or bust. You got the great LeBron. You got great Embiid, who was, like three, four years ago, Charles (Barkley) and I would always say how he’s the best big man. I know LeBron wants to get one last run. Jaylen is feeling slighted. Maxey is making a name for himself. Definitely the team to watch,” O’Neal said in an appearance on SportsCenter.Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)“This team was put together to win a championship now. I think if they don’t win a championship, all those players will be very disappointed.””Championship or bust.”—@SHAQ on his expectations for the Sixers this year after acquiring LeBron James and Jaylen Brown 👀 pic.twitter.com/fT54BHF3nh— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 20, 2026Indeed, time is ticking on James’ career. He chose to sign with the 76ers in prioritizing his happiness, and one would have to assume that he saw joining this team as his best ticket to winning a fifth championship.There are some question marks surrounding the 76ers, of course. It will be interesting how Philly integrates four high-usage players together, and whether or not they could coalesce in time to make a run for the title.Embiid’s health is also going to be key; he showed flashes of his dominant self during the 2026 NBA playoffs, and the presence of other stars on the roster means that the 76ers can manage his workload much more strictly this upcoming season.There is certainly a world where everything goes right for the 76ers and they end up winning it all. But that is far from a guarantee considering how many other elite teams there are in the association.Related: 76ers’ LeBron James shares wild post in reaction to missed hole-in-oneRelated: Brian Windhorst throws cold water on 76ers 50-win season with LeBron James