LeBron James has confirmed that a longtime friendship with Tyrese Maxey and the prospect of helping Joel Embiid secure his maiden NBA title shaped his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers. The 41-year-old signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the franchise in July after opting against returning to the Los Angeles Lakers.
James broke the news on his "Mind the Game" podcast alongside co-host Steve Nash, a day before his scheduled media day appearance in Camden, New Jersey. Training camp opens next week. "Philly was not even a question" early in his deliberations, James said, until the Sixers completed a trade with Boston for Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.
James and Maxey share an agent and have trained together since the guard entered the league. "He was one of the first people that was on my line, calling me," James said of Maxey, who became one of his chief recruiters once free agency opened.
On Embiid, James praised the centre's résumé, which includes an MVP award, two scoring titles and Olympic gold, while noting Philadelphia had yet to advance past the second round since drafting him third overall in 2014. "He's done everything in our league, and the only thing he has not done is win a championship," James said. "I hope that I can be, kind of, that final little piece that can help him get over the hump."
The Four-time champion said he felt physically strong during offseason workouts and wanted to pursue another title in Philadelphia. The Sixers went 45-37 last season before being swept in the second round by the eventual champion New York Knicks.
