![\"Rich](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2254811287_778e9c-e1784656229628.jpg\")
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Rich Paul said LeBron James will not be rushed into choosing his next team as the 76ers and other contenders await his decision.<\/p>\n
The Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> have made their pitch to LeBron James<\/a>. Now, like the rest of the NBA<\/a>, they have little choice but to wait.<\/p>\n Rich Paul, James\u2019 longtime agent, pushed back Tuesday against the growing pressure for the four-time MVP to select his next team, saying the magnitude of the decision outweighs the league\u2019s desire for a quick resolution.<\/p>\n \u201cJust have a little patience with him and us,\u201d Paul said on <\/a>The Pat McAfee Show<\/a>. \u201cObviously, Pat, it\u2019s his choice. I have a job to do to set the table for him, but it\u2019s his choice.\u201d<\/p>\n The message also applies directly to Philadelphia, which has emerged among the leading contenders for James after he informed the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> that he would play elsewhere during his 24th NBA season.<\/p>\n The Sixers\u2019 work, Paul suggested, is already complete.<\/p>\n 76ers Have Made Their LeBron James Pitch GettyTyrese Maxey, a Klutch Sports client who has developed a close relationship with LeBron James, embraces the four-time MVP after an NBA game. The 76ers are reportedly among the teams making a pitch to James in free agency following their blockbuster acquisition of Jaylen Brown<\/a>.<\/p>\n Philadelphia\u2019s pursuit has included recruiting efforts from Tyrese Maxey<\/a>, Joel Embiid<\/a> and newly acquired Jaylen Brown, according to ESPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n Maxey\u2019s connection carries additional significance because he is represented by Klutch Sports, the agency Paul founded. The Sixers can also offer James a roster built to contend immediately, with Maxey, Brown, Embiid and second-year guard VJ Edgecombe<\/a> forming the foundation of their starting lineup.<\/p>\n ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania<\/a> recently placed Philadelphia among the most serious contenders for James, alongside Cleveland and Miami. Golden State and Minnesota have also remained involved.<\/p>\n Paul has said interested teams do not need to add anything to their presentations. James has received the necessary information, leaving the final decision to him.<\/p>\n That means the Sixers cannot accelerate the process with another phone call or recruiting pitch.<\/p>\n Adam Silver Waiting to Finalize NBA Schedule<\/p>\n The uncertainty has expanded beyond the teams pursuing James.<\/p>\n NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged that the league wants James to decide soon because its scheduling committee must account for his destination before completing the 2026-27 schedule. Wherever James signs will become one of the league\u2019s most prominent national television attractions.<\/p>\n Paul said he understands the league\u2019s position and has discussed it directly with Silver.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand where the league is at and things of that nature as it pertains to the schedule, but it\u2019s a very conflicting thing because this is a very important choice for him, and you cannot rush it,\u201d Paul said.<\/p>\n James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds for the Lakers last season. Even at 41, he remains capable of changing the competitive and commercial outlook of whichever franchise he chooses.<\/p>\n Rich Paul Says Decision Is About More Than Basketball<\/p>\n For Philadelphia, the basketball argument is uncomplicated. James would join three established stars and a promising young guard on a team positioned to challenge the New York Knicks<\/a> in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n His final calculation is more complex.<\/p>\n \u201cThis man had a very important, layered decision to make across business, across family, across basketball,\u201d Paul said.<\/p>\n Paul denied that James is extending the process to manipulate fans or generate attention. He also said he remains unaware of which team James will choose.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Paul said. \u201cI wish I did know.\u201d<\/p>\n The Sixers have set their table. Until James reaches his decision, the NBA\u2014and Philadelphia\u2014will have to leave the seat open.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tAlder Almo<\/a> is a veteran NBA reporter for Heavy.com, covering the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. He brings over 20 years of experience across local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Originally from the Philippines, he is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Rich Paul said LeBron James will not be rushed into choosing his next team as the 76ers…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":815285,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[64,63,726,85],"class_list":["post-815284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-basketball","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-basketball","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/815284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=815284"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/815284\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/815285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=815284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=815284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=815284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Philadelphia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784674034_136_GettyImages-2250629097.jpg\")
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