LeBron James’ decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers wasn’t simply about basketball. The four-time NBA champion wrestled with the choice every day before ultimately committing to Philadelphia, according to his longtime agent Rich Paul.
Paul revealed just how difficult the process was for James as he weighed up offers from multiple contenders.
“You can see from the end of the season…the emotional attachments and how hard it is to go away from a Miami and go away from a Cleveland,” said Paul on the “Game Over” podcast Friday afternoon. “Who wouldn’t want to play with Steph Curry and Draymond Green? I’m seeing the emotional roller coaster every single day.”
Paul explained that James seriously considered four franchises before making his decision, with the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat all remaining in the mix until the end.
He also noted that every team appeared to be in front at different stages of the process.
In the end, Philadelphia’s championship outlook proved too strong to ignore.
Paul believes the 76ers’ offseason move to acquire Jaylen Brown alongside an already talented core featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and rising star VJ Edgecombe gave James confidence that the team could compete for another title immediately.
James’ close relationship with Maxey, who is also represented by Klutch Sports, also factored into the final decision.
Paul is equally confident the fit on the court will work under head coach Nick Nurse.
“[James] helps Tyrese [Maxey] in terms of pick-and-roll action. … I think Nick Nurse can take a little page out of Ty Lue’s book and use Tyrese as the screener,” Paul said. “When you talk about a guy like VJ Edgecombe, he definitely helps him.”
While Minnesota was also mentioned during the discussion, Paul clarified the Timberwolves were never among James’ final four options.
READ MORE: Is James Harden Getting in the Way of a LeBron James-Cleveland Reunion?