Ex-NBA first-rounder calls out 76ers' LeBron James for not building relationships with teammates image
The Philadelphia 76ers have put together an intriguing roster in the Eastern Conference that could make a deep playoff run when the season is all said and done. However, their success will depend on staying healthy and getting their collection of stars to mesh on the court.
One major move was trading for Jaylen Brown in a deal few expected to happen. The other, of course, was signing LeBron James.
“LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers for his final run at another NBA championship, he announced Friday," ESPN's Dave McMenamin wrote. "James, 41, is signing a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania."
James has admitted that he will split his time between New York and Philadelphia. During media day, reports also emerged that James was using a helicopter to commute between the two cities.
“A helicopter for LeBron James could be heard outside Sixers practice while Anfernee Simons was speaking to reporters Tuesday, per mcten. Bron is using the helicopter to commute back to NYC, where he plans to split his time this season. The trip takes around 40-45 minutes,” Bleacher Report posted.
Recently, NBA veteran Olden Polynice questioned whether James was spending enough time with his teammates to build chemistry, given his frequent trips to New York.
“First of all, look, the man plays for the 76ers, and he's jumping on helicopters every day going to New York," Polynice said. "You know, it's like, so how are you spending time with your teammates, getting to know them outside of practice, which is something that you should be trying to do to a certain extent, get to know these guys, because you're not getting it done in practice.”
Polynice didn't hold back in criticizing James for allegedly not spending enough time with his teammates away from the court to build relationships. However, there is no way to know how much time James spends with his teammates before or after practice or what his schedule looks like beyond his reported commutes.
The 76ers appear to be in a good position, but the helicopter trips could become a bigger talking point if more details emerge about how James is balancing his time between the two cities. James is known for building strong relationships with his teammates, so Polynice's criticism may be premature. At the very least, the veteran has put James under scrutiny for his commuting arrangements.
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