A final homecoming in Cleveland, a return to South Beach alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, a dream link-up with Steph Curry in Golden State, a chance to join the reigning champs in the Garden.
Countless options and fairy-tale storylines were on the table as LeBron James made what he called the "last decision" of his legendary career.
Instead, he chose a fresh slate on a team with which he doesn't share much history, alongside players whose fates aren't inextricably linked with James' time in the league: The Philadelphia 76ers, alongside Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown.
Since making that announcement on July 24, saying that "I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team," James hasn't offered much more context as to what went into his decision.
But in the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast, which he co-hosts with fellow NBA legend Steve Nash, James finally took the time to fill fans in on his inner machinations over the past few months, expanding on the relationships he had previously built up with his new 76ers teammates.
"My relationship with Tyrese Maxey goes beyond the court ... " James explained. "I just love everything about Tyrese Maxey. Every day, you get the same person, and that's very rare. I've always talked about how great of a person he is."
James said that the two have been in constant communication since before he chose to sign in Philadelphia, saying that Maxey was one of the first to get in touch with him when he made the decision not to return to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 41-year-old also mentioned Jaylen Brown, who joined the 76ers via a shocking blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics in the off-season. James mentioned he loves the way Brown "approaches the game, too. Both sides of the floor, what he brings to the game, his insight on the game," and called him "kind of misunderstood."
He added that “Philly was not even a question” early in his decision-making until the Sixers pulled the surprise deal with Boston to acquire the 2024 Finals MVP.
However, one of the most important pieces for James was Embiid — the oft-injured former MVP who has yet to advance past the Eastern Conference Finals.
James and Embiid shared the floor playing for Team USA at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, winning gold together. But winning once wasn't enough for James because he wants to help the two-time scoring champ reach another level, cementing his place among greats at the centre spot.
"The only thing he has not done is win a championship. I want to try to help him get that first one," James said of Embiid. "He's been the MVP of our league, has a gold medal, all-stars, signature shoes, a bunch of money, beautiful family — he has everything.
"He has the city on his back; he's been 'The Process' for what, 10 years, 12 years, however long he's been there. I think it's time now that we dig even deeper into the process, and I hope that I can be that final little piece that can get him over the hump and have him see maybe just a little bit differently than he's seen it in his career."
A four-time NBA champ, James made it clear that he still has a desire to compete. He's won at every stop on his historic 23-year career, hoisting the Larry O'Brien with the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers.
Any more trophies would be icing on the cake as he builds his case to be the greatest to ever play the sport. However, the real victory for James comes from his desire to break conventions when it comes to aging stars, saying on the podcast that “I think I'm more in love with the pursuit of how much more can I defy the odds."
“If you still have an opportunity to do what you love, then why just say I'm done? What is the reason? Do you have a real reason?” he added later in the episode.
James and the 76ers will get their season started on Oct. 20, when they head to the Big Apple to take on the reigning champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
