LeBron James explains why he chose Sixers over Cavs, Heat and Warriors

LeBron James could have returned to the Cavaliers. He could have reunited with the Heat or joined Stephen Curry and Draymond Green with the Warriors. Instead, he chose the Sixers.

James explained his decision on the latest episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash, pointing to Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid as the biggest reasons for signing with Philadelphia.

He agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with the Sixers in July. The second season is a player option.

Maxey, who shares agent Rich Paul with James, was among the first players to recruit him once he entered free agency.

“I just love everything about Tyrese Maxey, man,” James said, via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “Every day you get the same person, and that is very rare in sports and, obviously, super rare in life.”

Philadelphia’s acquisition of Brown from the Celtics seemingly helped close the deal.

“The JB trade, too, was another piece that I don’t think anybody seen coming,” James said. “I love the way he approaches the game, too, on both sides of the floor, what he brings to the game, his insight on the game.”

Brown won a championship and Finals MVP with the Celtics in 2024. James also called Brown “misunderstood,” adding that he respects what the veteran wing stands for.

But the largest factor may have been Embiid.

“One of the most important, to be honest, is the big fellow,” James said. “He’s done everything in our league, and the only thing he has not done is win a championship. I want to try to help him get that first one.”

James understands nothing is guaranteed. There have been eight different NBA champions in the past eight seasons. The Sixers have not won one since 1983, the year before James was born.

Still, he believes Philadelphia has assembled a roster capable of ending that drought.

“What we can control is how we show up to work,” James said. “Are we here to just play in the regular season? No, we’re here to win.”

James spent the previous eight seasons with the Lakers, winning the 2020 championship. Lakers president Rob Pelinka said Thursday that James’ departure was handled “amicably, professionally and gracefully.”

The 41-year-old could have made a third run with the Cavs, returned to a Heat team that added Giannis Antetokounmpo or joined two longtime friends with the Warriors. Each option offered something familiar.

Philadelphia offered James a different challenge. Namely, help Maxey, Brown and Embiid win the championship that has eluded the organization for more than four decades.

James, 41, already delivered the Cavs their first championship. He will begin his attempt to do the same for the Sixers when Philadelphia opens the season against the defending champion Knicks on Oct. 20.