LeBron James might be viewed as a forgiving figure after he finally settled his NBA free-agent decision on Friday.
James announced that he is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he will join a starting unit that includes former All-Stars Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown.
Brown had just been acquired in a trade with the Boston Celtics earlier in the month, but the pairing with James becomes particularly compelling given Brown’s prior public remarks about Bronny James before Bronny’s own NBA career began with the Los Angeles Lakers.
During the 2024 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Brown was courtside when cameras captured him displaying a notably skeptical outlook on Bronny’s NBA future.
“I don’t think Bronny is a pro,” Brown told Kysre Gondrezick, a former WNBA player with whom Brown was rumored to be involved at the time, in 2024.
When Gondrezick responded that she believed Bronny would land on the Lakers’ G-League squad rather than the official roster alongside LeBron, Brown allegedly replied, “I hope so, but because of his name he’s gonna be with the Lakers.”
Since Brown’s remarks were made before Bronny’s rookie season, it’s difficult to dispute that there was at least some truth in his assessment.
In two seasons, Bronny, averaging 8.1 minutes per appearance, has posted 2.7 points, 1.1 assists and 0.6 rebounds across 69 games. If his last name weren’t James, there would at least be a debate about how many chances the Lakers would have given him to prove himself as a second-round pick.
When asked about his current relationship with Brown during the NBA All-Star Weekend this past February, LeBron offered a measured take.
“Our relationship has been pretty respectful,” James said, praising Brown’s performance from the previous season. “Aside from the stuff he said about Bronny at Summer League… but aside from that, we’ve been all right.”
With the two now sharing the same locker room, it appears that LeBron and Brown are both eager to collaborate and put the past behind them.
Before LeBron’s definitive choice was announced, Brown had already been seen courting him for Philadelphia during a recent live stream with popular streamer IShowSpeed during a World Cup FIFA game.
“Throw the ball up,” Brown tweeted after James revealed his ultimate decision, signaling his anticipation for the season to start in October.
James, meanwhile, explained his decision to join the 76ers in a series of tweets.
“The last few weeks have been truly special,” James wrote. “I’ve never had a moment where I wasn’t able to step back, reflect, and take real time to think. I’ve shared some incredible months with the people I love while trying to figure this all out.”
“This is my last decision. I’m not chasing money. I’m not chasing family. What am I really playing for at this stage? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win, and to feel the thrill of winning another championship,” he elaborated.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship-caliber team, and I’m incredibly excited to energize a new fan base and begin this remarkable journey one final time.”
“Thank you, L.A.. Miami, you’ll always hold a special place in my heart, and Northeast Ohio will forever be home,” James added.
