LeBron James has explained his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers as a free agent, pointing to his relationships with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid as the main factors. Speaking with Steve Nash on the Mind the Game podcast, James said his bond with Maxey extends beyond basketball.
"I just love everything about Tyrese Maxey, man," James said. "Every day you get the same person, and that is very rare in sports, and obviously super rare in life." James revealed Maxey was one of the first players to call after he and the Los Angeles Lakers agreed to part ways.
James also highlighted Philadelphia's off-season acquisition of Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics. "I thought the JB trade, too, was another piece that nobody... I don't think anybody seen coming," James said. He praised what Brown "stands for" and his play on both ends of the floor.
Embiid, however, was the biggest draw. "He's done everything in our league, and the only thing he has not done, and that's win a championship," James said. "And I want to try to help him get that first one."
Embiid averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 38 games last season, while Maxey posted 28.3 points and 6.6 assists per game. James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 60 games during his 23rd NBA season. He joins Philadelphia on a two-year minimum-salary contract with a player option for the second season.
