LeBron James and his decision on where to play next was one of the biggest talking points of the NBA off-season.
The ‘King’ reportedly considered the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves before eventually deciding on the Philadelphia 76ers.
It was a decision that shocked the NBA world, and now James is chasing his fifth NBA championship and the 76ers’ first title since 1983.
But for James, the decision to continue playing basketball wasn’t necessarily an easy one.
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In fact, following his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers, he admitted he thought his NBA career might have been over.
“I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn’t ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game,” James wrote on X.
“I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and deicide if I still love this game.
“I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”
And while he is the league’s biggest name, he wasn’t the only major addition for Philadelphia.
Former Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has also joined the 76ers, with the pair now forming a ‘big four’ alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
But will it all work out?
Many experts and league insiders have already declared Philadelphia a genuine championship contender, and the four stars haven’t even stepped onto the court together in a regular-season game yet.
‘THE PROCESS’ TO BE COMPLETED?
When James arrived in Philadelphia, the 76ers were immediately thrust into NBA championship contention.
This is a fan base that has been starved of success, having not won a title for 43 years and endured one of the toughest rebuilds in recent NBA history, famously known as ‘The Process’.
It all started back in 2013 when the 76ers elected to rebuild, prioritising draft picks and young talent in the hope of building a championship contender.
That included selecting Joel Embiid with the third pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and Ben Simmons with the first pick in 2016.
And whilst the team has shown glimpses of what it could become over the years, Philadelphia has never made it past the Eastern Conference semifinals during the Embiid era.
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But now, with James, a four-time NBA champion, and Brown, an NBA champion and Finals MVP, the 76ers have two players who know exactly what it takes to win it all.
And there is already plenty of excitement surrounding what they could achieve together.
Brown has spoken about the opportunity to play alongside James, making it clear just how much it means to him.
“That’s the greatest player to ever play the game, so it’s an honour,” Brown said in a post-game interview during the preseason.
Maxey has also spoken about his relationship with James, revealing he played a part in recruiting the four-time NBA champion to Philadelphia.
“Rich (Paul) told me LeBron didn’t know what he wanted to do so holler at him if you know what you’re thinking, so I texted LeBron and told him pull up,” Maxey said.
“We have a good chance, and I feel like you could help us.
“You’re one of the greatest of all time, why wouldn’t we want you on our team.
“He’s been a big brother to me since 2020. So it’s crazy for me to be in year 7 and be playing with him.”
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And it isn’t just Maxey who has a connection with James.
The 41-year-old James has already spoken about wanting to help Embiid achieve the one thing that has escaped him throughout his NBA career.
“One of the most important things is the big fella,” James said on the Mind The Game podcast. “And the only thing he has not done, and that’s win a championship.
“I want to try to help him get that first one.”
Embiid shares a similar mindset, making it clear where his priorities lie.
“I’m at a point in my career where I need to win,” Embiid told ESPN’s Malika Andrews.
In James, Embiid now has a teammate who has done it all.
He is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, a four-time NBA champion, a four-time MVP and arguably the greatest player of all time.
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“I’ve seen everything that this league has to offer, on the floor and off the floor,” James said. “So, the luxury of my game is I can do everything.
“Literally, I can do everything.”
Whilst he can do everything, this season he may not have to.
James, who will turn 42 midway through the season, will have the luxury of playing alongside a younger core featuring Embiid (32), Brown (29) and Maxey (25).
SO IS A CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON LOADING, LIKE MANY BELIEVE?
Despite all the talent on the roster, a championship is far from guaranteed.
But there is no denying the excitement surrounding Philadelphia heading into the season, with several former players and analysts backing the 76ers to go all the way.
As is James, who declared: “I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team.
“This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point?
“I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.”
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Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins was also full of excitement when James landed in Philadelphia, believing the 76ers have the mentality needed to win it all.
“The Philadelphia 76ers with LeBron James can win a championship this year with this roster,” Perkins said on ESPN.
“The one thing we talk about… high IQ guys, yeah, that’s one thing. But LeBron James loves to play with a bunch of dogs.
“If you go and you check his history of the teams that he won a championship with, they had dogs.
“And this is what the Philadelphia 76ers, this is what they have.”
Stephen A. Smith went one step further, declaring that James would win his fifth championship during his two-year stint with the 76ers.
“I think that LeBron James is going to win a fifth NBA championship,” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take.
“I think within the next two years, these two years that he’s committed to Philadelphia…this season or next season, the Philadelphia 76ers are gonna win LeBron James his fifth NBA championship.”
But whilst many are excited about the prospect of Philadelphia finally ending its championship drought, not everyone is convinced.
There have been reports that James is living in New York during his time with the 76ers, travelling by helicopter to and from training sessions and games.
The arrangement has already attracted attention, with reports of NBA owners reaching out to journalist Pablo Torre to investigate the situation.
Former NBA player Olden Polynice has raised concerns about what it could mean for Philadelphia’s chemistry.
“The man plays for the 76ers, and he’s jumping on helicopters every day going to New York,” Polynice said on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast.
“So how are you spending time with your teammates getting to know them outside of practice, which is something that you should be trying to do.“
Chemistry will be crucial if Philadelphia is going to make a serious championship run.
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But James has shown throughout his career that his leadership and ability to connect with teammates can be just as important as what he produces on the court.
And when it comes to his relationship with Embiid, James believes the pair are already building on the chemistry they developed playing together for Team USA at the 2024 Olympics.
“The reps have just basically picked up from 2024 during the Olympics,” James said.
“The difference between 2024 and now is he’s so much more healthier.”
Keeping Embiid healthy will be another major factor when it comes to the 76ers making a run at the championship.
But will Embiid be able to stay healthy when it matters most?
Will James be able to maintain the level of production he has shown in recent seasons and help take this team over the edge?
Can Maxey, Brown, Embiid and James all find a way to work together on the court?
And is a franchise that hasn’t enjoyed much playoff success in recent years finally ready to take that next step?
Those questions will start to be answered when Philadelphia opens its NBA season against the New York Knicks.
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