Sixers try Jaylen Brown in the dunker spot as Dean Wade earns teammates’ praise

The 76ers are testing another way to fit Jaylen Brown into their offense: placing him near the basket while LeBron James and Joel Embiid create the initial advantage. Adam Aaronson’s October 12 PhillyVoice report examines Brown’s time in the dunker spot during Philadelphia’s Thursday preseason game.

One possession captured the idea. James drew two defenders after an Embiid screen, passed to the rolling center, and Embiid sent the ball to Brown for an uncontested dunk, according to Aaronson’s account. The first pass did not have to be the final scoring opportunity.

Jaylen Brown on lurking around the dunker spot on plays like this: "I’ve played a lot of different spots my whole career. So, not something I'm unfamiliar with. I feel like at this point in my career, I can play from any position anywhere at any given time and be effective." pic.twitter.com/YYg4TL0gwS

— Adam Aaronson's clips (@SixersAdamClips) October 9, 2026

Brown says spacing will take communication

Brown told reporters Thursday that he was comfortable playing from different places on the floor. He also acknowledged that the group was still working out where teammates should stand and what reads they wanted.

“It’s early,” Brown said in Aaronson’s report, “so we’ve still got to figure some stuff out in terms of spacing.” He described that as an ongoing conversation rather than a finished adjustment.

Aaronson presents the dunker spot as one part of Nick Nurse’s effort to work out the starting lineup’s offensive fit. The report does not say Brown is being assigned exclusively to that role or losing his opportunities to create with the ball.

Dean Wade gets support for the supporting work

The same PhillyVoice report documents the praise Dean Wade has received from Philadelphia’s stars. After Thursday’s game, James said Wade could fit on any basketball team and called players like him necessary to winning.

Aaronson identifies Wade’s ability to defend different positions, take open threes and keep the ball moving without needing a play called for him as reasons for that fit. Those are the reporter’s assessment of his role, not a new guarantee of playing time.

Tyrese Maxey had already said after a September practice that he wanted Wade shooting more threes, while Brown praised Wade’s character and attention to small details on Thursday. Together, the comments point toward the value Philadelphia places on players who can contribute alongside several primary scorers.

These are preseason experiments and teammates’ assessments, not settled regular-season rotation decisions. For a separate availability update, read our 76ers center-depth report.