LeBron James has broken his silence on his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers and his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers, detailing how personal relationships with Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown shaped his choice. Speaking to Steve Nash on their podcast, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer outlined the sequence of events that led him to Philadelphia after informing the Lakers he would not return.
The Recruiting Call From Tyrese Maxey
The decision to move to Philadelphia began to take shape when Tyrese Maxey made one of the first incoming phone calls after James’s camp informed the Lakers of his departure. Sharing the same agent, Rich Paul, the two players have a history dating back to 2020 when Maxey stayed at James’s home just before the NBA draft, spending time with James’s sons, Bronny and Bryce.
« Tyrese a été l’un des premiers à m’appeler. Il m’a dit : “Qu’est-ce qu’on fait ? Quoi de neuf, OG ? Viens ici, on pourrait avoir besoin de toi” », James recalled during the podcast discussion, noting that he ignored most calls of that nature but made an exception for Maxey due to their established bond.
James praised Maxey’s consistent demeanor, comparing his steady attitude to that of Stephen Curry. « J’aime tout chez Tyrese. Il est exactement la même personne tous les jours. C’est très rare dans le sport, et même dans la vie », James said.
Jaylen Brown Trade Changes the Equation
The acquisition of Jaylen Brown via trade from the Boston Celtics added further momentum to James’s decision. Brown, who won an NBA championship with Boston in 2024, arrived in Philadelphia in a move that caught James by surprise.
« L’échange de Jaylen Brown est arrivé de manière inattendue », a remarqué James, tout en expliquant qu’il a passé du temps à s’entraîner avec lui pendant l’été et qu’il a été vivement captivé par son style de jeu polyvalent, sa mentalité, son unicité et sa personnalité », James stated, adding that he spent time training with Brown over the summer.
With James, Brown, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on the roster, the 76ers bring together players who have already won championships. « Jaylen, KCP et moi, nous avons déjà vécu ce parcours, et nous sommes pleinement conscients du travail à abattre, du premier jour du camp d’entraînement jusqu’à la conquête suprême du trophée Larry O’Brien », James noted.
Supporting Joel Embiid’s Title Pursuit
Beyond his relationships with Maxey and Brown, James pointed to the presence of Joel Embiid as a primary driver behind his arrival in Philadelphia. James expressed his intent to help Embiid secure the missing piece of his professional resume.
« Joel a pratiquement tout accompli, sauf gagner un titre NBA », James observed, highlighting Embiid’s prior MVP honors, Olympic gold medals, and individual achievements.
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