LeBron James took the mic at 76ers Media Day, sounding like classic LeBron.
After a summer of endless free agency rumors, opting out of his contract, and leaving his family on the West Coast to chase another ring in the East, he finally landed in Philadelphia.
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Yet before taking a single shot in a Sixers uniform, he was already laying down excuses and tossing his new teammates under the bus.
“If we can do that, then we can be a great team,” he said.
“If we don’t do that, then we’ll be like, ‘Oh man, it was a great team on paper. We had a lot of great talent, and we lost in the second round.’ I don’t wanna do that. I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round, I know that for sure. So the work needs to be done, and I’m ready to put the work in.”
Classic LeBron. If they win, he is the savior. If they lose, the team on paper simply did not put in the work.
Then came the best part.
LeBron admitted he nearly signed with the New York Knicks, but backed off after they won a championship without him, knowing fans would roast him online for pulling a Kevin Durant.
“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden,” LeBron said. “One of the best places I’ve ever played. I think it’s the No. 1 arena in the world, as far as for a basketball player. But after they beat San Antonio, I was like, ‘Hey, I can’t.’ I couldn’t do it. Y’all wouldn’t have let me lay that down, at all.”
“But much respect to the Knicks, obviously,” LeBron added. “An unbelievable team, unbelievable players. Shout out Jalen Brunson. I love that guy, he’s unbelievable. But, yeah, I’m happy where I’m at, and I’m looking forward to it.”
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He wanted to end the drought himself.
Once Jalen Brunson took care of business, LeBron bailed for Philly.
Dropping LeBron into that locker room immediately raised questions about who actually runs the show in Philadelphia. Asked on Monday who the “alpha” of the Sixers is, Jaylen Brown shut it down cold: “Next question.”
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Then came the pandering to the Philly crowds.
“They know ball,” LeBron said. “And if you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do, they’re going to let you hear it, and I’m excited about that.”
Sure you are, LeBron.
As for how he fits alongside Embiid and Tyrese Maxey entering Season 24, LeBron had zero doubts about his remaining capability.
“The luxury of my game is that I can do everything,” James declared. “Literally, I can do everything.”
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team, and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey …” LeBron added.
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Whether Philly fans buy into the act remains to be seen.
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