LeBron James explains signing with Philadelphia 76ers after Tyrese Maxey call

Tyrese Maxey’s Late-Night Pitch and a Surprising Call

LeBron James has broken his silence on why he signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers in July.

The four-time NBA champion detailed his free-agency decision during an appearance on the “Mind the Game” podcast with co-host Steve Nash. Philadelphia was initially not on his radar when he and his agent, Rich Paul, informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not return to the franchise.

The situation shifted when guard Tyrese Maxey reached out directly. Sharing an agent with James, Maxey has maintained a close relationship with the veteran superstar that dates back well before the guard entered the league in 2020. James recalled hosting Maxey at his home when the young player was just 19 years old, where he spent time playing video games with James’s sons, Bronny and Bryce.

Inside the Relationship That Ignited the Move

“Tyrese was one of the first to call me,” James said on the podcast. “He said: ‘What are we doing? Quoi de neuf, OG? Viens ici, on pourrait avoir besoin de toi.’ D’habitude, lorsque je vois le nom d’un joueur apparaître et que je sais pourquoi il appelle, je ne réponds même pas. Mais avec Tyrese, notre relation est tellement forte que je ne pouvais pas l’ignorer.”

James praised Maxey’s consistent demeanor, comparing his steady disposition to that of Golden State Warriors star 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.

The Unexpected Trade for Jaylen Brown

The decision gained further momentum when the 76ers pulled off an unexpected trade with the Boston Celtics to acquire Jaylen Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP. James admitted he did not anticipate Boston parting ways with Brown, but the addition immediately transformed Philadelphia into a far more intriguing destination.

“L’échange de Jaylen Brown est arrivé de manière inattendue,” James explained. “C’était très intrigant pour moi, car j’aime sa façon d’aborder le jeu des deux côtés du terrain. J’aime sa manière de penser, son individualité et ce qu’il représente.”

Championship DNA and the Quest for Joel Embiid

Having worked out with Brown over the summer, James noted that the combination of Brown, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and himself provides the locker room with players who already know what it takes to manage a championship run from the opening day of training camp to hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

While Maxey’s recruitment and Brown’s arrival laid the groundwork, the presence of Joel Embiid proved to be the ultimate deciding factor for James. The league’s all-time leading scorer expressed a deep desire to help the dominant center secure the glaring omission on an otherwise decorated resume.

Defying Expectations at 41 Years Old

“Joel a pratiquement tout accompli, sauf gagner un titre NBA,” James stated. “Il a été MVP, champion olympique, All-Star. Il a ses chaussures signatures, il a gagné beaucoup d’argent, il a fondé une famille…”

At 41 years old, James acknowledged that his primary fuel remains the challenge of defying expectations. As the 76ers prepare for the upcoming campaign, the newly assembled core will look to translate their individual accolades into collective success when training camp gets underway.