LeBron James Claims He Joined the Sixers Just to Get Joel Embiid a Ring
LeBron James revealed that helping Joel Embiid win his first NBA championship was a primary factor in his decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, setting up a massive season of expectations.
HotTakes Editorial TeamUpdated 1 min read
Finding live odds…

LeBron James has officially entered his philanthropic era. The NBA's all-time leading scorer explained his decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, and apparently, it was essentially a charity mission to get Joel Embiid a ring.
James told reporters that helping the big man secure his first championship was one of the most important factors in his free agency move. It is a noble sentiment that immediately shifts the balance of power in the Eastern Conference and sends Philadelphia's championship futures into overdrive.
""One of the most important, to be honest, is the big fella... Only thing he has not done, and that's win a championship. And I want to try to help him get that first one." - LeBron James"
The pairing creates a fascinating durability dynamic for a team with massive expectations. James is entering his third decade of professional basketball with a pristine health record, while Embiid has famously missed more regular-season games than he has played in his career. The Sixers are currently healthy at the top of the roster, with only backup big Adem Bona sidelined by a foot issue, meaning this grand experiment is ready to launch.
Hearing LeBron talk about Embiid like a rescue dog that just needs a good home is objectively hilarious. But it also puts an unbelievable amount of pressure on a franchise that has historically treated the second round of the playoffs like an impenetrable brick wall. If James cannot drag this roster to the Finals, the front office is going to run out of excuses.
The sportsbooks have already adjusted the win totals, and now the actual basketball has to match the hype. We will find out very soon if LeBron's championship delivery service can finally break the Philadelphia curse, or if the Sixers are about to waste the most generous donation in NBA history.
Key stats
Joel Embiid has missed more games (495) than he has played (490) in his career.
LeBron James has played 20 years without a career-threatening injury.
What's next
The Sixers will enter the season with massive expectations and heavily adjusted win totals as they attempt to make a deep playoff run and validate LeBron's move.

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