Jaylen Brown’s Arrival Lured LeBron James to 76ers, Says Kobe Bryant’s Ex-Teammate

Derek Fisher explained the key reason why LeBron James’ Philadelphia 76ers move makes sense.

Jaylen Brown’s Arrival Lured LeBron James to 76ers, Says Kobe Bryant’s Ex-Teammate

Derek Fisher and LeBron James (Image credits - MARCA and TIME)

No player dominated the 2010s like LeBron James. He reached eight consecutive NBA Finals from 2011 to 2018 and another in 2020 after missing it in 2019. However, he has not reached the Finals since.

Following his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer, the odds of him winning his fifth championship grew significantly after he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers have made some blockbuster moves in the offseason.

After getting clean swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the 76ers had to make some big changes to contend for a championship. James signed after the blockbuster move for Jaylen Brown.

Former NBA champion Derek Fisher believes that Brown’s move to the 76ers would have tempted James to sign with them.

I don’t think he would have gone if Jaylen Brown was not there. I think that decision right now, if you’re a veteran guy who’s looking for an opportunity to be on a championship-contending team, an addition like Jaylen Brown to where Philly was, put Philly on that short list of teams.

Derek Fisher on SiriusXM NBA Radio

The NBA world was left stunned when the Boston Celtics agreed to trade away Brown to the 76ers after failing to move him to the Milwaukee Bucks. After acquiring Jaylen Brown, there were reports that James was seriously considering a move to the 76ers.

Several teams were linked to James, but in the end, he agreed to join the 76ers on a two-year deal. It was reported that Brown played an active role in recruiting the King to Philly after his trade from Boston.

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LeBron James’ move to Philly makes sense at this stage of his career

LeBron James has already cemented himself as one of the, if not the, greatest players of all time. He became the first player in history to complete 23 seasons in the NBA last season. After joining the 76ers, he has confirmed he will play his 24th and 25th seasons in Philly.

LeBron James
LeBron James (Image credits – Yahoo Sports)

Fisher named the reason why the basketball fit makes sense for James at this stage of his career.

I like the move on just pure basketball based on where LeBron is as a veteran player. I like the move in terms of, at this age and where he is in his journey, there’s no reason for him to have to be the best player on the team. Shouldn’t even try to be the best player on the team.

Derek Fisher on SiriusXM NBA Radio

James will be turning 42 in the middle of the 2026-27 campaign. As a result, he is expected to be more of a leader in the locker room and a playmaker on the court. He does not need to average 25 points every game and can instead leave the scoring to his other All-Star caliber teammates.

Derek Fisher does not fear a Lakers meltdown after LeBron James’ exit

James joined the Lakers in 2018. Many predicted it would be the final stop of his career. However, after eight years, he decided to test free agency one last time.

James’ departure has always negatively affected the teams. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat fell out of the playoff picture and became mediocre teams after his exit.

Some fear the same for the Lakers, but Derek Fisher remains calm because they still have Luka Doncic.

You think about the few organizations where LeBron has been, you tell me where their record has gotten dramatically better after he left. So it’s not going to fall off that much because Luka is there. 45 to 50 wins, a lot of things are going to have to go right, but it feels fair to me.

Derek Fisher on 97.1 The Fan LA

Doncic became the centerpiece of the Lakers after joining them at the trade deadline last year in a blockbuster move. The Lakers have made big changes to their roster as they build it around their Slovenian guard. So Fisher isn’t too worried about the Lakers cratering after James’ departure, since Doncic still leads the team.

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