Although he has not yet been seen anywhere near the state of Pennsylvania, it is worth recalling that LeBron James is a Philadelphia 76ers player. A decision that surprised many and about which little light has been shed beyond the obvious. As a compelling presence in the media in its own right, James took advantage of the premiere of the fourth season of Mind The Game to discuss the factors that led him to choose Philly.
Before diving into his statements, it’s worth clarifying that there are two reasons he does not mention, but which are crucial. First, Philadelphia is one of the most important sports markets in the United States. And second, they are contenders for a title until proven otherwise. LeBron prefers to focus on personal connections.
«My relationship with Tyrese Maxey goes beyond the court», he begins, punctuating. «He’s a person who is the same person every day. And that is very rare in sport and in life. He remains the same cheerful kid I met before he reached the NBA. He comes to my house, talks with Bronny and Bryce, and plays 2K with them».
During the summer, that message Tyrese Haliburton sent to James ‘just in case’ went viral, receiving little more than ignorance. A tactic that he couldn’t apply with Maxey. «He was among the first to call me to say ‘What’s up? How are you doing? Come here, we can use you,’” the King says. «Normally I wouldn’t pick up the phone because I didn’t want them to influence my decision. But Maxey is too good a person. I can’t not talk to him. Besides everything he does on the court».
When he talks about Jaylen Brown, the tone is cooler. It’s clear he respects him, but his way of approaching his position in life is very far from his own. A quality that, in a way, also flatters him. «I love the way he sees the game, on both ends of the floor», he starts. «Sometimes he’s misunderstood. People want to pigeonhole everyone. And I love what he fights for and what he brings to the table, in his own way».
Another topic is mentioning Joel Embiid. «To be honest, one of the big reasons is the big fella«, he refers to the Cameroonian center. «He has done everything in our league. He’s been MVP, has an Olympic gold medal, All-Stars, sneaker silhouettes, a lot of money, a beautiful family. Everything. The only thing he does not have is a championship. And I hope I can help him achieve it».
