Agent Rich Pavel this summer, in several episodes of his podcast, he went into detail about why his customers like or dislike certain destinations LeBron James in free agency. However, James himself has been relatively quiet about his decision to sign a minimum wage contract Sixers until he performed on Friday’s episode Mind the Game Podcast about his thinking.
How PhillyVoice’s Adam Aaronson relay, James called the ability to team up with Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brownand Joel Embiid as the main reason why he chose Philadelphia. James’ friendship with Maxie, another Klutch Sports client, has been well-documented, and LeBron has confirmed that he will co-host Steve Nash that his relationship with the star guard “goes beyond the court.”
“I just love everything about Tyrese Maxey, man” James said. “It’s the same guy every day. And that’s very rare in sports and obviously very rare in life. And I’ve always talked about what a great person he is. And we obviously know what he brings to the basketball court.
“When I became a free agent and we decided to let the Lakers know I wasn’t coming back, he was one of the first people on my line to call me … A lot of times I just don’t answer the phone because I don’t want to be swayed one way. I already know what you’re talking about. But he’s such a great person, I can’t help but talk to him.”
Despite his close ties to Maxey, James was not believed to be considering Philadelphia as a legitimate landing spot until the team struck a deal with Boston to acquire Brown. On Friday’s podcast, the four-time MVP confirmed the trade put the Sixers on his radar and made it clear he’s looking forward to playing with the All-NBA wing.
“I like the way he approaches the game” James said of Brown. “Both sides of the floor, what he brings to the game, his understanding of the game. I’ve watched him — kind of wrong, and that’s totally fine. I think we’re all individuals for a reason. And everybody’s always trying to put everybody in the same box. And I love what he stands for, what he brings to the table, that way.
James’ glowing comments about Maxey and Brown didn’t come as a surprise, given that reports in July suggested they were both factors in his decision. However, LeBron also spoke to Nash about why he liked the opportunity to team up with Embiid, a seven-time All-Star and former MVP.
“He’s done everything in our league and the only thing he hasn’t done is win a championship.” James said. “And I want to try to help him get that first one. He was the MVP of our league, he’s got a gold medal, All-Stars, signature shoes, a lot of money, a beautiful family, he’s got it all. He’s got the city on his back. He’s been ‘The Process’ for 10 years, 12 years, however long he’s been there.
“But I think it’s time to get you into the Process. And I’m hoping that I can be, like, that last little piece that can help him get over the hump and get him to see it a little bit differently than he’s seen it in his career, as far as the day-to-day process, the day-to-day, of what it takes to get there.”
James and Brown are set to join Maxey, Embiid and the second-year guard VJ Edgecombe in the 76ers’ starting lineup, much of the pre-camp talk about the new team revolved around how so many ball-handling players would perform offensively. But James spent a lot of time talking to Nash about Philadelphia defensive potential, suggesting that Edgecombe has the tools to be a complete defensive player and noting that getting stops and creating turnovers will allow Maxey and Edgecombe to use their speed in transition.
James pointed to the Raptors’ championship team in 2019 as an example Nick Nurse a team with several high-IQ players who prided themselves on playing aggressive defense and winning the battle for possession. LeBron hopes this year’s Sixers can emulate that approach.
“We’ve got the speed, we’ve got the athleticism, now it’s about do we have enough discipline to actually be able to take it defensively and hold each other accountable?” James said. “Because that’s what it’s all about. We’ve got to get guys to make contested twos, try not to give up straight-line drives, try not to give up corner threes, and then we’ve got to rebound, you know? As fast, as athletic as we can be, we can’t do anything if we don’t get the rebound. So that’s important.”
