PHILADELPHIA — New Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James dropped 10 spots on ESPN’s top 20 NBA players list.
James was ranked No. 8 last season with the Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA legend is ranked No. 18 for the upcoming season.
The 41-year-old James is one spot ahead of Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and one spot behind Toronto Raptors swingman Scottie Barnes.
James is the oldest active player in the NBA. He turns 42 in December.
LeBron Played Well For Lakers Last Season
James played 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 Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, James put up 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game.
The Lakers beat the Rockets in the first round in six games. However, James and Co. lost to the Thunder in the second round in four games.
Lakers superstar Luka Dončić didn’t play in the 2026 playoffs because of a severe hamstring injury, so James was the No. 1 option for LAL, and he performed well.
Inside James’ Decision To Join 76ers
June 30, 2026. That’s the day James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, told the 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 that 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 start 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 let him 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 next season with LeBron in the fold next to Embiid, Maxey, Brown and VJ Edgecombe.
112 NBA Players Pick Between LeBron, Jordan In GOAT Debate
Out of 112 active or former players polled by one media outlet or another over the past four years, 49 picked LeBron as the GOAT, and 46 picked Michael Jordan, with 17 votes going to other players, according to HoopsHype.
Out of 57 active players polled, 34 picked LeBron (59.60 percent), and 17 picked Jordan (29.80 percent).
Meanwhile, among 55 retired players, 29 picked Jordan (52.70 percent), and 15 picked LeBron (27.30 percent).
During a wide-ranging conversation with Dave McMenamin of ESPN last season, LeBron opened up like never before about the GOAT debate between him and Jordan.
“I think it’s a very tiring conversation,” LeBron said. “It’s barbershop talk. You can look at both of us and say that you love both of us without trying to s— on the other person. And usually, it’s s—ting on me. But I know for sure that I’ve done my part in this journey and more than anything I hope — I don’t know — but I hope I made him proud at least, wearing that No. 23.”
Jordan averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.8 blocks per game with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards during his NBA career. He won five MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year award, six championships, six Finals MVPs, three steals titles and 10 scoring titles with the Bulls.
Meanwhile, LeBron holds career averages of 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks per game with the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers. He’s a four-time MVP, four-time champion, four-time Finals MVP, one-time scoring champion and one-time assists champion.
Jordan is first in NBA history in points per game in the regular season and playoffs. He holds the NBA record for most points (63) scored in a playoff game. Jordan went 6-0 in the NBA Finals and three-peated twice with the Bulls in the ’90s.
LeBron, who grew up idolizing Jordan, is 4-6 in the NBA Finals. He spoke about his losing Finals record with McMenamin and how people use it against him in the GOAT debate with Jordan.
“When I was younger, I used to have the notion of like, people were getting on me for losing in the Finals, and when I was younger, I used to listen to it,” LeBron said. “Like, people will really rather you not make the playoffs or lose in the first round than to lose in the Finals, which is crazy to me. And I almost feel like, is it because it’s me? Everybody has to say something about my career: ‘Oh, well, he made eight straight Finals, but he was only able to win three.’ ‘He’s the leading scorer in NBA history, but he’s played 23 years.'”
LeBron is first in NBA history in points, field goals, games and minutes. He’s the only player to rank top five all-time in points and assists, the only player to win three Finals MVPs with three teams, the only player with 40,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 career assists and the only player to score 50,000 points combining the regular season and playoffs.
Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, while LeBron will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer once he retires from the NBA.
“There are a lot of things that MJ did better than I do,” LeBron said. “And I think there are some things that I do better than him. That’s just how the game goes. There’s a lot of things that I can say in particular. You already know how this conversation is going to be [misinterpreted] by people, man.
“I think I am 1 of 1. I think the way I play the game, I am a 1-of-1 player. And MJ, as well. A f—ing unbelievable basketball player. I think his midrange jump shot was unbelievable. He did so many things great. I grew up f—ing analyzing everything that he did. How he could get to his spot and rise up above everybody. Obviously, his post game was elite. His will to win. I think that is a trait that we all know and that we all wanted to be like. His determination to win.
“I never have compared myself to MJ because our games are totally different. I have been a point-forward/forward-point my whole life. I have always looked for the pass. MJ kind of looked for the shot. Not kind of, he did. He looked for the shot. There are a lot of things where I would say my game is a lot different and a little better than his, but s—, he was f—ing great. We’re both great. We’re both great basketball players.”
