LeBron: ‘I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round’

A lot of excitement surrounds the Philadelphia 76ers, and one of the biggest reasons is the addition of LeBron James.

On Monday, at the team’s practice facility, James spoke to the Philadelphia media at the team’s annual media day.

The 41-year-old James, who spent eight seasons with the Lakers, signed with the 76ers in the offseason and joins a team that includes former league MVP Joel Embiid, 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey, and 2026 All-Rookie First Team guard VJ Edgecombe.

With that talent, it’s safe to say that the 76ers are one of the favorites to win an NBA title. The last time the 76ers won a championship was in 1983. The last time the team got beyond the second round was when Allen Iverson led the 76ers to the NBA Finals in 2001.

James, a four-time NBA champion, made it clear on Monday that he didn’t leave his family in California to have an early exit in the playoffs.

“We have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” he said. “That is the best way to expedite being great. You have to fall in love with doing things that’s uncomfortable. And if we can do that, then we can be a great team. If we don’t do that, then we’ll be like, ‘Oh, man, it was a great team on paper, and we had a lot of great talent, and we lost in the second round.’ I don’t want to do that. I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round.”

James has played in Cleveland, Miami, and Los Angeles. Now entering his 24th season, James is eager to play in front of Philadelphia’s fans.

“I’m super excited to get in front of these fans,” he said. “They know sports, they know ball. And if you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing, they’re gonna let you hear it, and I’m excited about that. They hold people accountable. It’s a sports town. I believe it’s the only sports town where all of the teams are in the same parking lot, basically. I am just excited to be a part of this, be a part of the feeling, be a part of the vibe, and go out and play for something that is more than myself, more than the players in the locker room, but for the whole city.”

When the 76ers lost to the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs, no one saw James and Brown going to Philadelphia, but it’s real, and anything short of a championship would be uncivilized.