Getting LeBron James to Philadelphia was a team effort for the 76ers.
James’ next stop was finally revealed Friday, as he announced he was heading to Philly, and ESPN reported how several Sixers figures recruited him to join their team.
The Sixers came at him “from all angles”, with president of basketball operations Mike Gansey staying in “constant communication” with James’ agent, Rich Paul, according to Dave McMenamin.
Paul previously shared that his client’s priority in his next chapter was “basketball happiness”, which the Sixers reportedly interpreted in optimistic fashion for their chances of landing him.
The outlet also shared how Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and their new teammate Jaylen Brown made direct recruiting efforts towards James, with Maxey also being represented by Paul’s Klutch agency.
Those overtures were apparently a two-way street, as James, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, continuously reached out to players like Embiid and gave the organization “hope that they were still involved.”
James was also courted by at least one prominent person outside of the Sixers organization, as he reportedly ran into Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro earlier this month.
Peter Hamby reported for Puck that Shapiro was dining at private members club ZZ’s in New York with Bill and Hillary Clinton when James came over to chat with the group.
Shapiro then reportedly used the chance meeting to “lobby” James to the Sixers — and now James is heading to his fourth team.
James is signing with the Sixers on a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option.
It remains to be seen if the 41-year-old would really play another two years, and he admitted on X that he nearly called it quits after last season.
“I thought I was done when the season ended,” he wrote.
“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. 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.”
Now, James is back for at least another season, and he’ll try to add a fifth championship with the help of Maxey, Embiid, Brown and V.J. Edgecombe.
