After accepting a significant paycut and family distance, LeBron James outlined clearly why he joined the Philadelphia 76ers.

“I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship,” James tweeted. “I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team.”

Of course, James believes he can. He already has won four NBA championships with three different franchises, including the Miami Heat (2012, 2013), Cleveland Cavaliers (2016) and Los Angeles Lakers (2020). He has climbed to No. 1 on the NBA’s all-time leading scoring list and No. 4 on the league’s all-time assist list. James unquestionably boosts the Sixers’ championship odds. But does he guarantee it?

Below are a few factors that will determine whether James can collect his fifth NBA title and become the first player in NBA history to win a league championship with four different teams.

How will James handle ball-handling duties with Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown?

All three players work best when they have the ball in their hands. So how can all three be at their best with only one ball?

No doubt, all three players will need to have reps to bring out the best in everyone. But all three players have already had experience playing secondary roles. Before he became an All-Star last season, Maxey deferred more to center Joel Embiid. Throughout his 10-year career with the Boston Celtics, Brown had to learn how to temper his isolation-heavy style of play so he could co-exist with Jayson Tatum. Last season, James excelled as the Lakers’ third option behind Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves as a screensetter, floor spacer and occasional facilitator.

All three might seem more inclined to make the other feel comfortable for a few reasons. Maxey has less tenure than James and Brown. After the Celtics surprisingly dealt Brown to the Sixers, he may want to prove that he cares more about team success than individual glory. By accepting a veteran’s minimum deal, James implicitly also accepts he will likely inherit a reduced role.

These issues could become challenging to navigate amid external adversities, including overlapping injuries and losses, But it appears all three will bring out the best in each other, given their strong level of basketball intelligence, versatility and respect for each other.

Can James and Joel Embiid stay healthy?

It seems unlikely that James or Embiid will win the NBA’s Iron Man Award. In his 24th season, the 41-year-old James inevitably will experience Father Time’s unforgiving touch after playing a combined 60 games last season with issues involving sciatica and his left foot. Entering his 11th NBA season, Embiid has played in only a combined 96 regular-season games in the previous three seasons because of various knee and foot ailments. But with both taking their training seriously, James and Embiid can at least improve their odds with becoming more available consistently.