Philadelphia Wasn't on LeBron's List. Then Tyrese Maxey Called

When LeBron James started thinking about where to play his 24th season, Philadelphia wasn't a serious option. He said so himself on his "Mind the Game" podcast with Steve Nash. What changed it was a trade and a phone call.

The trade was the Sixers' surprise deal with Boston for Jaylen Brown, the reigning Finals MVP. The call was from Tyrese Maxey, one of the first people to reach him after he told the Lakers he wasn't coming back. James and Maxey share an agent and have trained together since Maxey came into the league.

Tyrese Maxey was one of the first to call James after he left the Lakers.

Embiid's missing piece

The other reason was Joel Embiid. James pointed out that Embiid has an MVP, two scoring titles and Olympic gold but no championship, and the Sixers have never gotten past the second round with him. James said he'd like to be the final piece. Last year's team went 45-37 and was swept in the second round by the Knicks.

He had kind words for Brown too, saying Brown moves to his own beat and that his independent voice makes some people uncomfortable.

I think I'm more in love with the pursuit of how much more can I defy the odds.

James is 41 and signed for two years and $8 million. He admitted he thought he was done after last season, his eighth with the Lakers, but time with his family and how good he felt in workouts changed that. He called the Lakers years humbling and said Los Angeles is still home. He didn't say who else he talked to.

He averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds last season. His first media day as a Sixer is Monday in Camden, New Jersey.