LeBron James Joining 76ers Means Trouble for Knicks’ Title Defense, Says Skip Bayless

Skip Bayless expects LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers to be a strong contender in the East next season.

LeBron James Joining 76ers Means Trouble for Knicks’ Title Defense, Says Skip Bayless

Skip Bayless and LeBron James (Image credits - The New York Times and Sky Sports)

LeBron James is arguably the greatest basketball player ever. Since entering the NBA in 2003, James has cemented his place in the history books through his longevity and sustained excellence.

After joining the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent in 2018, many believed that the Lakers would be the third and final team of his illustrious career. But knowing James, he surprised the NBA world by not re-signing with the Lakers after eight years and tested free agency for the fourth time in his career.

The ‘King’ joined the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year deal this summer. The move was seen as a needle mover in the Eastern Conference.

Skip Bayless is well known for being a longtime critic of James. According to the sports columnist, James and the 76ers will be the biggest threat to the defending-champion New York Knicks in the East next season.

Your Knicks are in trouble now because he is going to be running the show and doing what he does best, pass the basketball, orchestrate. Drive the Ferrari instead of being the Ferrari. If LeBron can just lead this team on and off the court, he’ll be in the best spot of his career and they are going to dethrone your Knicks in the East.

Skip Bayless on First Take

Skip Bayless was not a fan of James’ move to Philly in the offseason. After the announcement of the move, Bayless went on a lengthy rant and called James a “ring chaser”.

His move to Philly came after the 76ers traded for Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics earlier in the summer. Their recent two acquisitions have seen the 76ers form a superteam heading into the 2026-27 campaign. With Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in the roster, they are widely viewed as the most dominant team at the moment.

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Stephen A. Smith predicts LeBron James and the 76ers to take on the Knicks in the Conference Finals

The New York Knicks and their fanbase are flying high after their historic championship run last season. It was their first championship since 1973, and the title united the city of New York like never before.

The Knicks deserve to be at the top of the rankings before the new season gets underway as they have retained the core of their roster in the summer. However, the 76ers are seen as legitimate contenders as well, despite their new-look roster not having played a single game yet.

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith, a lifelong Knicks fan, believes the two teams will face off in the Eastern Conference Finals next year.

Jalen Brunson is big time. Kat and Bridges and Anunoby and Hart are [back], keeping them together. They will meet the Philadelphia 76ers in the Conference Finals and we will see what happens then. The Knicks and Philly are the two favorites.

Stephen A. Smith on First Take

It will be interesting to see how James and Brown adapt to their new surroundings in Philly. With so many stars in the lineup, they will need to keep their egos aside and work together for the betterment of the team.

All signs point to a Knicks-76ers clash in the Conference Finals next year. However, the two sides are scheduled to face off on Opening Night at Madison Square Garden, which could serve as an early preview for the ECF.

LeBron James points to his relationship with Tyrese Maxey

LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey share a strong relationship. They share the same agent, Rich Paul, who is also a longtime friend of James. Maxey has even called the King his “big brother” as the two have practiced with each other in the offseason over the last few years.

Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James
Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James (Image via Covers/X)

On the latest episode of Mind The Game podcast, James spoke about his relationship with the two-time All-Star and how it factored into his decision this summer.

First of all, my relationship with Tyrese Maxey goes beyond the court. I just love everything about Tyrese Maxey, man. When I became a free agent, he was one of the first people that was on my line. ‘Yo, what are we doing? What’s up, OG? What’s up, old head? Come on down here, man. We could use you down here.’

It looks like Maxey was one of the few players to reach out to James when he became a free agent and may have played an important role in recruiting him. The 41-year-old will be looking to win his fifth ring and become the first player in NBA history to win a championship in four different franchises.

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