Why did LeBron James choose the Sixers? A phone call from Tyrese Maxey certainly helped.
James doesn’t answer many phone calls, but he always picks up when Tyrese Maxey rings.
LeBron James got his first taste of Philadelphia in his senior year of high school when he played at the Palestra.
Now, he’ll be calling the city home after signing a two-year, $8 million deal to presumably finish his legendary career with the Sixers. James spoke about his decision to join Philadelphia on the first episode of season four of his Mind the Game podcast with hall of famer Steve Nash that was released on Friday.
Why Philly?
James doesn’t answer many phone calls, but he always picks up when Tyrese Maxey rings.
“When I became a free agent and we decided to let the Lakers know that I wouldn’t be returning, he was one of the first people that was on my line,” James said. “Calling me, ‘Yo, what we doing? Yo, what’s up OG? Come on down here, we could use you down here.’”
James said he and Maxey have a relationship that extends far beyond the basketball court, which played a big factor in his decision to join the Sixers. Maxey even used to play video games with James’ sons Bronny and Bryce when he was 19.
“I just love everything about Tyrese Maxey,” James said. “Every day you get the same person and that is very rare in sports and obviously super rare in life. And obviously we know what he brings to the basketball court.”
Alongside Maxey, the Sixers’ trade for Jaylen Brown caught James’ attention, but the final piece for James was Joel Embiid, who he said was “one of the most important” parts of his decision.
“He’s done everything in our league, and the only thing he has not done is win a championship,” James said. “I want to try to help him get that first one. He has the city on his back. I hope I can be that final little piece that can help him get over the hump.”
Decision to come back
After the Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, James felt good, but he had spent a lot of time thinking about whether it was the end for him.
He took a month-and-a-half or so off basketball and felt his body responded well, while his mind responded even better than it did last offseason.
» READ MORE: Tyrese Maxey visits local spots to promote signature New Balance shoes: ‘Philadelphia has raised me’
“I’ve always told myself, if I feel like I can’t put in the process of waking up and training the body and training the mind and I feel good after I do that on a consistent basis, then I know for sure that I’m done,” James said.
James’ family was supportive of his decision, even encouraging him to play another year. And he’s still in love with his pursuit of defying the odds.
“If you still have an opportunity to do what you love, then why just say, ‘I’m done?’” James said. “I think that’s what it came down to.”
Thoughts on his new teammates
James’ love for Maxey is clear, but he also had some high praise for Brown and VJ Edgecombe
Brown is someone James feels is “misunderstood” as a person, as he’s a bit more outspoken than the average NBA star. The pair have worked out “three or four times this offseason.”
“Any time someone kind of moves to their own beat, it makes people uncomfortable,” James said. “When it becomes misunderstood, then it becomes intimidating … We’re two of the guys on the team that’s been through the foxhole and been through the ringer.”
As for Edgecombe, James’ intel has told him the 21-year-old is wise “beyond his years” and was one of the leaders of last year’s team.
“He speaks with an intelligent confidence,” James said. “Works extremely hard. He’s a flat-out player. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to be contending for an all-defensive team this year. He has all the tools.”
Are the Sixers a superteam?
There is plenty of noise surrounding the Sixers now that James and Brown have joined the team, but James isn’t quite ready to call his new squad a “super team.”
“A championship is not guaranteed,” James said. “What we control is how we show up to work.”
Although Maxey, Embiid and Edgecombe have played together before, James knows it’s going to take some time for the entire unit to click. He said “there’s going to be trial and error” and added how he’s new to Philadelphia and the surroundings.
James also hopes the Sixers face some adversity throughout the season so they can grow closer.
“I hope we go through a three-game losing streak,” James said. “We have to be able to go through some real-life battle moments in the fight to know who we are and what we want to become. We got to peel the onion.”
The Sixers haven’t won a ring since 1983, the year before James was born, but he’s ready and hopeful that they can change that.
“We want a team that can compete for a championship,” James said. “And I think the city of Philly wants that. This is the city of champions.”
