Despite winning 45 games last season, the Philadelphia 76ers still have a tremendous amount of work to do. While they managed to eliminate a division rival, the Boston Celtics, in the first round, another made short work of them. The New York Knicks swept the 76ers on their way to a championship.
According to some, Philadelphia pulled off a trade theft, landing Jaylen Brown, sending Paul George to Boston with draft picks involved. However, another monster transaction, this one involving LeBron James, could be looming thanks to the play of one of their players.
Insider Believes Tyrese Maxey’s Presence Could Lure LeBron James to 76ers
With Brown and Embiid, the 76ers have the makings of a solid team. Bringing in James could take the team to the next level. Add in second-year player VJ Edgecombe, and Philadelphia becomes an even tougher out. Now, Tyrese Maxey’s continued elite play and the 76ers become dangerous. ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst believes Maxey could be the main reason James could head to Philadelphia.
Brian Windhorst says that Tyrese Maxey is what attracts LeBron James to the Sixers:
“ I will say that a big factor here is Tyrese Maxey. Philly got into the conversation by trading for Jaylen Brown, but the reason i think he seriously is considering Philadelphia is because of… pic.twitter.com/6DJsCIo6jn
— JayTakes (@SportsWithJay0) July 9, 2026
“Brian Windhorst says that Tyrese Maxey is what attracts LeBron James to the Sixers:
“I will say that a big factor here is Tyrese Maxey. Philly got into the conversation by trading for Jaylen Brown, but the reason i think he seriously is considering Philadelphia is because of Tyrese Maxey. It’s the same thing as when Anthony Davis got traded to the Lakers. They’re Klutch Sports.”
In July 2024, the guard signed a five-year, $204 million contract extension to stay in Philadelphia, thanks to his agents. James and Maxey share the same representation, Klutch Sports, founded by the former’s close friend, Rich Paul. From a promotional synergy standpoint, the potential move makes sense.
Plus, on the court, James’ addition would complement Maxey’s style. Maxey is a scoring facilitator. Meaning, he’s seen his scoring average improve every season in the league.
While that trend may not continue, having a player who can deliver crisp passes and get to a spot if the defense collapses on James helps. Moreover, on defense, Maxey averaged 1.9 steals per game last year and could push the ball in transition.
Most importantly, and what could sway James, other than the Klutch Sports tie-in, is that he wouldn’t need to carry the 76ers. With offensive firepower all over the starting lineup, James could seamlessly flow into a less burdensome role.
On a team filled with options, he doesn’t need to lead in any category. As a result, any potential deal with Philadelphia could turn into a multi-year effort rather than a one-off. Is Maxey enough of an incentive to make James a member of the 76ers?
