While speaking to reporters at a USA Basketball event in Ladera Ranch, California, Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant made his first public comments since LeBron James left the Los Angeles Lakers for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Durant said he’s excited to watch James play for the 76ers, who have a lethal core of James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe.
“The last time they put three 20-point scorers on a team, they said it was unfair, which was the [Warriors] team I was on,” Durant said, via ESPN. “[The 76ers] have got four 25-point scorers on this team. So, hell yeah, I think they’re going to be a contender. They’re going to be a fun team to watch. It’s going to be League Pass-worthy.”
Durant and James are close friends. However, KD had no idea LeBron would join the 76ers this summer.
“I didn’t know at all,” Durant said. “LeBron is stealth like that. I know there’s a lot of noise around him, but you never know what’s on his mind. I’m happy for him. It’s a great decision for him to go to a team that has a good chance to win. Philly is a great fanbase, a great market, and it’s great for the league. There were so many eyes that were tuned in to his decision.”
The 76ers have never advanced past the second round of the playoffs in the Embiid era, which began in 2016-17. That should change next season with James in the fold next to Embiid, Maxey, Edgecombe and Brown.
Arguably the best player in NBA history, James appeared in 60 games last season, his 23rd year in the NBA. He averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game for the Lakers.
In the 2026 playoffs against the Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, James put up 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. The Lakers defeated the Rockets in the first round in six games. Durant only played in Game 2 of the series because of injuries. LAL then lost to OKC in the second round in four games.
James signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers. The second year of the deal is a player option.
As expected, James will wear No. 23 with the 76ers. The future Hall of Famer turns 42 in December.
Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game in his first season with the Rockets, who added Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanović this summer in free agency. Durant turns 38 in September.
