ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania<\/a> reported that Cleveland was the only team granted an in-person meeting with James during free agency.<\/p>\nJames reportedly met with Cavaliers leadership privately in early June to discuss what a third stint in Cleveland could look like.<\/p>\n
The meeting was kept off the record and the true extent of Cleveland\u2019s chances may never be known, but the fact it was the only face-to-face pitch James accepted demonstrated how seriously he considered a return home.<\/p>\n
James delivered Cleveland its first NBA championship in 2016, and another reunion would have provided a storybook ending to his career.<\/p>\n
Instead, he ultimately turned down the chance to return to the Cavaliers, just as he rejected the opportunity to reunite with Miami, play alongside Curry in Golden State or remain in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
CLIPPERS TABLE BIG OFFER<\/p>\n
James\u2019 departure from Los Angeles was not inevitable.<\/p>\n
The Clippers reportedly showed significant interest in signing the veteran superstar and discussed a one-year deal worth more than $20 million.<\/p>\n
The offer would have allowed James to remain in California, where his family has been based since he joined the Lakers in 2018, while continuing to compete in a major market.<\/p>\n
It was also significantly more lucrative than the two-year, $8 million deal he eventually accepted from Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
LeBron James after passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Picture: Harry How \/ Getty Images via AFPSource: AFP<\/p>\n
However, James\u2019 priorities had shifted.<\/p>\n
Paul told ESPN that his client was focused on finding \u201cbasketball happiness\u201d rather than simply securing the largest contract available.<\/p>\n
That meant identifying the team that gave him the greatest opportunity to devote every day to chasing another championship.<\/p>\n
A source familiar with James\u2019 thinking said the 76ers ultimately fulfilled that requirement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is about LeBron really thinking, \u2018Where do I stand the greatest chance to spend every minute of every day focused on contributing to winning a championship?\u2019\u201d the source told ESPN.<\/p>\n
BROWN TRADE CHANGES EVERYTHING<\/p>\n
Philadelphia\u2019s move to acquire Jaylen Brown appears to have been a crucial moment in the pursuit.<\/p>\n
The Sixers already had former MVP Joel Embiid and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, but Boston\u2019s decision to trade Brown to Philly turned the team into an even more compelling destination.<\/p>\n
Basketball legend LeBron James has officially ended his eight-season run with the Los Angeles Lakers. Photo: Juan Ocampo\/NBAE via Getty ImagesSource: Supplied<\/p>\n
With Brown added to the roster, the Sixers suddenly presented James with a championship-ready core containing elite scoring, playmaking, defence and experience.<\/p>\n
Philadelphia president Bob Myers publicly sold that vision during an appearance on Paul\u2019s \u201cGame Over\u201d podcast with Max Kellerman on July 8.<\/p>\n
Myers argued that the Sixers possessed the most championship-ready roster James could join, despite the ongoing concerns surrounding Embiid\u2019s health.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I went on the podcast, that\u2019s what I meant,\u201d Myers told ESPN.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can disagree, anybody can. And you could argue Embiid, and what I would say is sure, there\u2019s always health risks, but I would take the chance of a healthy Embiid over you go somewhere else, other guys can get hurt, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the decision dragged on, Philadelphia began receiving signs that James\u2019 interest was genuine.<\/p>\n
KAT breaks up Logan Paul\/Brady scuffle | 00:22<\/p>\n
Paul reportedly asked the organisation whether James could live outside the Philadelphia market, similar to former Sixers guard and Los Angeles Lakers coach, J.J. Redick, who maintained his primary residence in Brooklyn while playing for the team.<\/p>\n
James also kept lines of communication open with Embiid, Maxey and Brown.<\/p>\n
Those conversations convinced Philadelphia officials that the interest was real, even though James refused to reveal his intentions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI talked to Joel after a call with James, and Joel\u2019s like, \u2018Hey man, I just said I\u2019m healthy,\u2019\u201d Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey told ESPN.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just said to him, \u2018What do you think?\u2019 He\u2019s like, \u2018I don\u2019t know \u2026 I don\u2019t know what he\u2019s thinking.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018HE SAID NOTHING\u2019<\/p>\n
James\u2019 secrecy extended beyond teams and executives.<\/p>\n
For months, he vacationed in Europe with former Cavaliers teammates, worked on his golf game and spent time with family and friends without revealing where he was leaning.<\/p>\n
Even when conversations turned towards his future, James refused to offer an indication.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe talked, he learned, he listened and he said nothing,\u201d a source close to James told ESPN.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t tell you what he was thinking. He didn\u2019t tell you what he was looking for.<\/p>\n
LeBron James and Savannah James. Picture: Jemal Countess\/Getty Images for TIMESource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think LeBron just decided this was the time he was going to make it about what he wanted, and he was going to block out all the noise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ultimately, however, the decision was not James\u2019 alone.<\/p>\n
His family\u2019s approval was considered crucial throughout the process, particularly given the prospect of relocating from Los Angeles to Philadelphia or New York.<\/p>\n
Paul revealed that the final green light came from James\u2019 wife Savannah and daughter Zhuri.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you get the green light from Savannah, it means you\u2019re getting the green light from Zhuri,\u201d Paul told ESPN.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boys are out of the house.\u201d<\/p>\n
SIXERS IT IS<\/p>\n
James finally reached his decision after midnight on Thursday, 24 July.<\/p>\n
At peace with his choice, he called Paul and informed him that he wanted to join Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Paul then contacted the Sixers the following morning.<\/p>\n
James completed a 5.30am workout on Friday before playing a morning round at Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank, California, as the final pieces of the deal were put in place.<\/p>\n
Paul sent a group message to Philadelphia\u2019s key decision-makers, including team governor Josh Harris, co-owner David Blitzer, Myers, executive vice president of basketball operations Jameer Nelson and Maxey.<\/p>\n
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this year. Picture: Luke Hales\/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cCongrats,\u201d the message read.<\/p>\n
\u201cSixers it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
James then announced his decision through a shared social media story with Topps, featuring an image of him wearing a white No. 23 Sixers uniform alongside an autographed one-of-one trading card.<\/p>\n
The promotion made James the first athlete to monetise his free agency announcement in that fashion.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then he put his phone down and didn\u2019t take any calls,\u201d a source close to James told ESPN.<\/p>\n
James\u2019 decision brought an end to one of the most secretive and widely contested free-agent pursuits in NBA history.<\/p>\n
He turned down a third stint in Cleveland.<\/p>\n
He rejected a reunion with Miami and the chance to form another star trio alongside Antetokounmpo and Adebayo.<\/p>\n
LeBron James in 2013. Picture: AP Photo\/Lynne Sladky FileSource: AP<\/p>\n
He declined the opportunity to play with Curry in Golden State, join Minnesota\u2019s rising core, remain in Los Angeles with the Clippers or return to the Lakers alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and his son.<\/p>\n
Theories will continue to emerge about why each team fell short, but only James knows how close each destination truly came.<\/p>\n
What is clear is that Philadelphia was far from his only option.<\/p>\n
The Sixers survived interest from almost the entire league, a lucrative offer from the Clippers and a private pitch from James\u2019 hometown Cavaliers before finally securing one of the most remarkable signings in NBA history.<\/p>\n
And while the two-year agreement could take James through his 25th NBA season, Paul suggested the move may extend his career even further.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe we get two seasons,\u201d Paul said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe we get four.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LeBron James\u2019 decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers may have shocked the NBA, but the road that led…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":834257,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[557],"tags":[64,63,590,85],"class_list":["post-834256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-nba","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/834256","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=834256"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/834256\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/834257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=834256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=834256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=834256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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