CAMDEN, N.J. — New Philadelphia 76ers star LeBron James planned to sign with the New York Knicks had they not won the 2026 championship against the San Antonio Spurs.
James is a huge fan of Madison Square Garden.
“I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden,” James told Dave McMenamin of ESPN on Monday during the 76ers’ annual media day. “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.”
The Knicks beat the Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals in five games.
It was New York’s first NBA title since 1973.
“Y’all wouldn’t have let me lay that down, at all,” James said, referring to the media at large. “But much respect to the Knicks, obviously. 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.”
Inside LeBron’s Massive Decision To Join Philly
June 30, 2026.
That’s the day James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, informed the Los Angeles Lakers that King James would not return to the franchise.
One day later, the 76ers agreed to acquire Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster deal that ultimately pushed James to sign with the franchise one of his closest friends, Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, used to star for.
“The Jaylen trade pushed LeBron to sign with Philly,” a source told Dallas Sports Journal.
This offseason was the first time since 2018 James was an unrestricted free agent. The 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat were the four teams the NBA icon seriously considered joining before eventually signing with Philadelphia.
Had the 76ers not traded for Brown, James would not be in Philadelphia.
“LeBron would not be on the 76ers right now if they didn’t get Jaylen,” a source told Dallas Sports Journal. “That was the move that made this all happen.”
When James’ son, Bronny James, was playing in Summer League for the Lakers in 2024, Brown was caught on camera saying, “I don’t think Bronny is a pro.” Sources said LeBron was not happy about what Brown had to say about his son, who nearly died in July 2023 when he suffered a cardiac arrest during a basketball workout at the University of Southern California.
LeBron thought a player of Brown’s caliber would understand that it would take Bronny time to regain confidence and rhythm on the basketball court after such a traumatic event, sources said.
When the 76ers acquired Brown, many people around the NBA speculated that the move would deter them from getting LeBron. However, sources told Dallas Sports Journal at the beginning of July that LeBron and Brown have moved past their differences and are on good terms, so much so that Brown — along with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey — heavily recruited LeBron to the City of Brotherly Love.
LeBron didn’t tell Paul about his decision to sign with the 76ers until one hour past midnight on July 24. The King kept going back and forth between Philadelphia, Miami and Cleveland, sources said.
While LeBron has always wanted to play with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, and living in San Francisco would have allowed him to be close to his wife and daughter in Los Angeles, LeBron never seriously considered joining the Warriors, sources said.
“It was between Miami, Philly and Cleveland for LeBron,” a source told Dallas Sports Journal. “He’s already won in Miami and Cleveland. He wanted a new challenge and wants to bring Philly a ring.”
The 76ers have never advanced past the second round of the playoffs in the Embiid era. That will likely change this upcoming season with LeBron in the fold next to Embiid, Maxey, Brown and VJ Edgecombe.
Philadelphia opens the 2026-27 season against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
