Now 41 years old, future Hall of Famer LeBron James has dominated free agency talk, with his decision on where to play next looming across the landscape. We haven’t heard too much about the Sixers’ pursuit, however, until now. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported the latest on Philly’s pursuit, which has involved all of their big name players.
McMenamin reported that the Sixers “have kept up their pursuit” of James, with their stars doing the recruiting themselves: “Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown have all been in communication with James, sources told ESPN on Tuesday, with Maxey leading the charge.”
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Maxey’s ties to James have been well documented. The two share the same representation, Klutch Sports, led by CEO Rich Paul. The latter two names, however, are somewhat of a development. Brown did go on stream and give a lighthearted recruiting pitch. Embiid, as many have recognized and discussed in the comments, has been quiet in the public eye and online. All three appear to be making a spirited effort to land James, who would slot right into the fifth starting spot alongside VJ Edgecombe and the trio.
Reports have stated that it’s “decision time” for James, and he will likely make his choice in the next few days. ESPN’s Shams Charania labeled the Sixers as a top-three suitor for James, along with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors have also been described as suitors to varying degrees.
We’ll likely know where James is headed soon, but this marks quite the trajectory change for the Sixers, who many held in a hopeless regard at the beginning of the summer. Even if James lands elsewhere, the message is clear: the best of the best recognize what the Sixers have in Maxey and this roster.
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