Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul reveals that LeBron James was legitimately torn over where he wanted to play next and didn’t make the decision to sign with Philadelphia until 1 a.m. ET on Friday, relays Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
Speaking on his “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman, Paul detailed how difficult the choice was for James, whose final four came down to the Sixers, Cavaliers, Heat and Warriors.
“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,” Paul said. *“Who wouldn’t want to play with Steph Curry and Draymond Green. I’m seeing the emotional roller coaster every single day. … Home is home (in Cleveland). Miami is Miami. It’s Pat (Riley). … I think that everyone was at some point leading the race.”*
Paul confirmed a report from earlier today that James began to give more serious consideration to Philadelphia after the team was able to acquire Jaylen Brown from Boston in a trade that was announced July 1. That deal brought more firepower to the Sixers’ lineup and gave them the look of a legitimate contender in the East.
“Ultimately, Philadelphia makes a move and then boom! Now you got Jaylen Brown,” Paul said. “Now hold on, wait a minute now. This looks a lot different.”
Paul added that James’ friendship with Tyrese Maxey was another factor because James believed it would help him have an easier transition to his new team. The all-star guard is also a Klutch Sports client, and he and James frequently work out together during the offseason.
Paul also speculated about what James’ role might be on a talent-laden Sixers squad.
“I think he helps everybody on that team,” Paul said*. “When you talk about a secondary playmaker, if [James is] your secondary playmaker, you have the best secondary playmaker in the league. He helps Tyrese in terms of pick-and-roll action. … I think (coach) Nick Nurse can take a little page out of (former Cavaliers coach) Ty Lue’s book and use Tyrese as the screener. When you talk about a guy like VJ Edgecombe, he definitely helps him.*
“… When you add a LeBron, everything changes. That is why it is not easy for someone who is (deemed) to be a star player on a team, when he comes, he kind of shows you how big or little of a star you actually are. It takes a special kind of person to mentally embrace that. The familiarity with him and Tyrese, you don’t have to worry about that with Tyrese. They know each other, they embrace each other, they have been working out together for the last five years. So you won’t have any pushback. You can’t pay for that. You can’t put a value on that.”
Conspicuously missing from James’ list of finalists are the Timberwolves, who were believed to be firmly in the mix. Paul stated that they were under consideration until James narrowed the list down to four teams.
He added that James went “back and forth” on the decision several times before settling on the Sixers.
“I’m happy for [James],” Paul said. “He’s made his choice. He’s happy with it. I think the city of Philly is going to embrace him.”