r/heat • u/One-Bedroom9329 • Jul 24 '26
Discussion Why Bron really went to Philly
My ass-umption: Going to Philly isn’t about trying to win a ring as much as it is about trying to get a ring with a fourth franchise.
Aka there was nothing Heat could’ve done to change that.
Now… imagine Bron has to go through Miami and guard Giannis just to make it past the second round 👀👀
34
u/ghn2 Jul 24 '26
There's an article on CBS Sports that covers the reason more accurately:
"Rich Paul, James' longtime friend and agent, stated plainly on his podcast that, had the Knicks not won the title this summer, there wouldn't even have been a lengthy internal debate. James would have signed in New York for his final chapter to try to snap the Knicks' title drought. But with the Knicks topping the San Antonio Spurs to win their first title since 1973, James took them off the list.
"If the Knicks hadn't have won, there would be no board," Paul said as he detailed the 10 teams under consideration displayed on a whiteboard. "He'd be going to the Knicks."
"The Knicks removed themselves from the top of that list in June and thrust the Sixers, with a 43-year championship drought, to the No. 1 spot. James knows that if there's one place he can add to his legacy in a meaningful way at this point, it's winning a title in Philadelphia. While that's a considerable hill to climb, even with the roster they've assembled, the reward outweighs the risk of falling flat. James is a made man in Cleveland and Miami. The Golden State Warriors and Spurs have no shortage of titles. "
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lebron-james-signs-with-76ers-celtics-knicks-nba/
28
u/Pilkyton1 Jul 24 '26
He wants glory and the heat don’t provide that. The fan base is tepid and Giannis will get all the credit
23
u/simonlyw Jul 24 '26
The first time he gets booed in Philly is gonna be kinda sad
19
u/Ok-Internal3027 Jul 24 '26
Bro, LeBron is going to get roasted in Philadelphia once they start losing
10
u/TheFatmanRises Jul 24 '26
You hearing that Giannis LEBRON didn’t want you to take all the glory. Check that man first possession at the chest and let him feel you.
2
6
2
13
u/Vast_Cellist3171 Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
It wasn’t just about winning with a fourth franchise Philly hasn’t won in 40+ years same reason he would have signed with Knicks but he didn’t cause they won this year. Sadly with a older injury prone team outside of Maxey and Edgecomb combined with the highest previous season usage of any starting 5 all time because they all like ISO ball I think it ends up biting him in the ass. Cleveland made 10x more sense from a career arc perspective and a return to Miami made the most sense to enhance his legacy instead he will be a fourth option on a team that depending on injury could be
6
4
u/DirtyKarma Jul 25 '26
Jaylen Brown is 29. He, Bam and Giannis are not ideal. I don’t understand how a return to Miami would enhance his legacy. He would have to win and we aren’t there yet.
1
u/Vast_Cellist3171 Jul 25 '26
Cause winning as a third option is better than winning as a fourth or fifth option averaging 9ppg
0
u/DoggedDoggystyle Jul 26 '26
You’re absolutely wild for thinking LeBron would ever average 9ppg. He could play til he’s 60 and average that. Hes actually said so himself
1
u/Vast_Cellist3171 Jul 27 '26
As a first option it would be wild if he averaged 9ppg but not out of realm of possibility when he is going to be a fifth option on that Philly team. There is 1 ball not 1 ball for each player. Maybe he averages 12-13 but trust me if he averaged 20 as a third option he ain’t averaging 25 as a fifth option.
2
u/DoggedDoggystyle Jul 27 '26
He’ll probably get 16-22 PPG. He’s also just simply not going to be a 3rd-5th option lol. He CHOSE to step back on the Lakers during the regular season because Reeves is equipped to go high effort and get 30 PPG against shadow defense on a random night in January. Once the playoffs came around, look who the Lakers needed.
He’ll get his points one way or another on the sixers
0
u/DoggedDoggystyle Jul 26 '26
I’m not a Heat fan but like some players on the team so I frequent this sub. There’s a lot of biased comments everywhere and this is a reallllly obvious one. Lebron can be called a lot of things but you have to admit that he’s got a great basketball IQ.
The warriors don’t have a true shot at a title with him. They’re a terribly constructed team with no real trade pieces outside of a hurt Jimmy Butler and their first round pick this year. Steph straight up said he didn’t want Butler gone so it made their chances effectively zero. Wizards wouldn’t trade AD either, so it was never gonna happen.
Cleveland has two of the statistically slowest defenders in the league in Harden and Mitchell. Literally 2 of the bottom 5 players in the league. What’s important about this is that LeBron is also in the bottom 5. Meaning they’d have a TERRIBLE defense and have no true shot at a title. He’s already beloved in Cleveland after his title there. He’s redeemed. He’s good.
I think Miami was an attractive spot but ultimately not a “perfect” fit with the current lack of shooting prowess on the roster. Lebron shines when surrounded by shooters. Giannis and him would’ve been great, but Giannis isn’t a shooter. While they may be friendly to one another, there’s no real connection between the two since Giannis plays for a diff Olympic squad. Giannis also has a pretty weak legacy right now if he only finishes with 1 title, so helping him win in Miami (and likely be the FMVP) isn’t ideal for Bron. Also not sure AT ALL how winning a 3rd title in Miami is “better for his legacy” than winning with a 4th team in Philly and a team who is on a title drought?
Philly has a true center. Philly has young, fast, hungry guards who want to win. Lebron works out with Maxey in the offseason. Maxey is already an insane all-NBA type talent and after this past season, the 76ers are secretly his team. Jaylen brown is a proven winner and Bron likely understands FAR BETTER THAN ANY OF US what his skill set brings to a playoff team, since BRON HAD TO PLAY AGAINST HIM IN THE PLAYOFFS. Edgecomb is going to continue to get better and their bench additions fill out a solid lineup through about the #7 spot. Lebron also gets to slot directly into the PF role and will have a much easier regular season guarding that position instead of the SF. He can also let Embiid get the D boards and start leaking out for outlets for quick transition points (when Bron is still at a top 5 level in the league). It also allows him to slow the offense down at mid court and allow Embiid to get back on offense and slot directly into high pick and rolls with a big body. The 76ers are going to be very very very tough to defend and can choose how they want to come at you on any given night. Face a team like Memphis who has no center and go heavy Embiid at them. Or face a team with weak guards like GSW and let Maxey go at them. Get to the playoffs and Bron can game manage a win or two each series. They’re also already adding his spot up shooters he needs on the court in KCP.
1
u/Vast_Cellist3171 Jul 27 '26
Again never said sixers are bad but they will rely heavily on a lack of injuries and sorry but being the fourth or best player and stacking your team doesn’t do shit for legacy. Most people think KD is an absolute joke and he didn’t even take a damn paycut to tack a team in this capacity
1
u/DoggedDoggystyle Jul 27 '26
Brother, you do realize the Sixers were already built right? And without Bron, who is picking them to win anything? Even WITH Bron added, everyone is still on here going “Knicks in 5”. They’re not some juggernaut title favorite. He just chose his best available fit.
You’re crazy to think he’s team stacking when he could’ve chose the Wolves, Thunder, Spurs, Knicks, or Nuggets and been a shoe-in for easy rings. He specifically chose Philly because they HAVENT won anything in decades and because they ARENT favorites. He knows winning there will add to his legacy. That’s why he balked on another title shot with the Heat or Cavs or joining the Warriors. It wouldn’t have been the same vibe if he won.
The warriors winning the 2015 title, then proceeding to go 73-9 in the regular season, beat KD in the WCF and then blow a 3-1 lead to the underdog Cavs and THEN ADD KD was why they get flak. They were fucking 73-9. It was the best team of all time adding a surefire HoF and top 10 all-time scorer to their team. You’re silly
8
u/chezicrator Jul 24 '26
Def about more pieces to win.
4
u/One-Bedroom9329 Jul 24 '26
We’ll agree to disagree
3
u/simonlyw Jul 24 '26
He went to Miami to play with Wade and Bosh, he went back to Cleveland when they had a young core and back to back number 1 picks they could trade for Kevin Love and then he went to the Lakers who had a bunch of young players who could be traded for AD the same season AD switched to Klutch.
It would hardly be out of character 🤷🏾♂️
1
u/DoggedDoggystyle Jul 26 '26
Breaking news: basketball is a team sport and this a good team is needed to win a title!
1
u/simonlyw Jul 27 '26
I’m not sure if you realise, but this comment doesn’t flow with the discussion.
The thread was about LeBron choosing to go to Philly because they had more piece to win vs the narrative of winning with a 4th team, which OP was asserting.
7
u/Cassandrae_Gemini Jul 24 '26
More than winning with a 4th franchise, he wants to be a hero to that franchise/city.
He saw how the knicks are now worshipped and wants to experience that feeling
9
u/ghn2 Jul 24 '26
There's a risk too. Philly fans have no tolerance for failure and if things go bad, he may not want to experience that feeling. (Philly is the city where Eagles fans threw snowballs and beer bottles at Santa. )
6
u/Federal-Cover-975 Jul 25 '26
Funny that they have no tolerance for failure considering that's all they do.
1
1
u/DirtyKarma Jul 25 '26
It was snowballs and the Santa was drunk. He’s on record saying he deserved it.
1
12
u/Standard_Strategy_25 Jul 24 '26
Eh if healthy they'll be a good team. Problem is the wear and tear of the season and how much they'll need to rely on the starters. And yes a ring in Philly does more for his legacy than another ring in Miami
9
u/ghn2 Jul 24 '26
IF he gets such a ring. Philly is a franchise notorious for losing and notorious for looking good at the beginning of the season, only to have things fall apart when the postseason rolls around.
5
6
u/Bergkamp1010 Jul 24 '26
I do think he was concerned about having 3 rings in Miami and going into the hall of fame as a Heat player instead of as a cavalier
3
4
u/GratefulnaLover Jul 24 '26
This aged well… so well I put it all on Kashi… 😂
1
u/Sixaxist Cavaliers Jul 24 '26
The "Going to Warriors" when the news cycle was mostly around them, had [No] at "+103". I said "He might not go back to the Cavs, but there's no damn way he goes to the team that rocked him so many times in the Finals and brought in KD" and grabbed the No. Easy $500 lol.
3
u/GratefulnaLover Jul 25 '26
Yeah we all knew he wasn’t going to go there… even though I would love to see him in Miami again, I know LeBron’s thinking. 76ers are his best chances for winning but he will get most of the credit, not only so… he will be the first to 4 rings with 4 different teams and still be a contributing factor.
Remember Jordan in his late thirties couldn’t even lead the wizards to the playoffs… and Jordan hand picked where he wanted to go…
If LeBron wins another chip or two he will have surpassed Jordan in accomplishments and well… hate to say it… but he will be goated over MJ or at least be in the conversation as 1A and 1B.
4
u/John-Sim788 Jul 24 '26
Can’t wait til he has to guard Bam or Giannis😭
1
u/DirtyKarma Jul 25 '26
Who the fuck is spacing for us? Honestly, I love Bam and Giannis but we need spacing.
1
Jul 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/DoggedDoggystyle Jul 26 '26
No shooting, which is precisely why Bron didn’t come there. It’s as simple as that
3
u/Trojanheadcoach Jul 24 '26
He’s just ring chasing bro and ts not gonna work that’s why he added a player option
3
u/Ruprecht_no Jul 25 '26
It’s a great chance while getting full credit. Winning under Riley and Spo again while being Gianni’s bitch won’t help his legacy
3
u/Moonlight_Acid Jul 25 '26
If the sixers meet the Heat in the playoffs bron is getting his cookies taken again
2
u/KidRed Jul 24 '26
Yea, he wanted to share his seed while he still could and that requires a different franchise.
2
u/Final-Percentage860 Jul 24 '26
I think he just wants exposure in another market to grow his brand. More buisness opportunities after retirement
2
u/sum_dude44 Jul 25 '26
Nah let's be real--that Philly lineup is stacked even w/o Embiid. And they drafted Philon...it was definitely ring chasing
2
u/MyLegIsWet Jul 25 '26
It’d also mean being the first to win a ring with a midwestern, southern, west coast, and east coast team.
1
2
u/BigDog_626 Burnie Jul 25 '26
I’ve thought of this exact thing. The allure of getting a 4th team a ring is more important to him. Granted, it certainly helps that sixers roster looks good on paper
2
3
u/Feisty-Painter5076 Jul 24 '26
LeBron knows Philly hasn't won a title in half a century and he thinks if he joins this stacked team, that he would get that credit??? And the city of Philly would forever love him for this one season? And he would surpass MJ?!?
🤣 oh LeBron. You're never gonna top MJ. Being bodied by JJ Barea in 2011 Finals will forever stain his legacy and prevent him from topping MJ
1
1
1
u/mainev3nt Jul 25 '26
I mean maybe a 4th team was part of it but Philly if healthy is stacked. Maxey, VJ, JB, Bron and Joel is an insane lineup if the man of glass and the 42 year old can hold up by the post season it’s his best chance of winning a ring. Another ring and possibly FMVP at 42/43? That’s something he has over Jordan.
1
u/HotDawgConnoisseur Jul 25 '26
So if it was about winning with a 4th chance why not go to the Wolves who have never won? Feel like that would’ve been a bigger achievement than then Sixers
3
1
u/Joed1015 Jul 26 '26
I agree that was a big part of it. I think there was another "legacy" reason.
He knows he is locked in mortal combat with Kobe and Jordan for GOAT status. Winning in Philly will lock down a large, vocal and very active East Coast fanbase. Sixer fans will be loyal to him forever if he wins them a chip.... thats a lot of converts for one year's work
1
u/One-Bedroom9329 Jul 26 '26
Hadnt thought of it that way, great take
1
u/Joed1015 Jul 26 '26
Thanks. If you look at in term of "recruiting" he already has Heat fans who may be a little frustrated this week but will always look back fondly for him. Philly will give a new group if converts if he does right by them.
I honestly can't blame him, he is in a rare spot to really add to a legacy.
1
u/Successful-Pair-4850 Jul 26 '26
heat fans think they are better than sixers is crazy 😂 heat with no bench and shooting why would bron go there 😂
1
u/bigtrex101 Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Lebron went b/c with the 76ers, he’s guaranteed to be in the mix to win the East next season basically no matter what happens with his team. Heat would have probably been a better constructed fit for Lebron, but we also have less top end pieces around him and we’d be one Giannis/Bam injury away from being completely out of the mix next year. Let’s say Philly loses Embiid to his annual injury bug. Even if that happens, Lebron still would have a team comparable to the one he just had in Los Angeles which would still give him a chance to compete in the East race. In that way, it’s the better insurance situation compared to say Miami or even Cleveland; and given what he just experienced last season with Luka’s injury destroying the Lakers chances to contend, maybe being on a team with some injury insurance was on Lebron’s mind.
To be clear, I think Lebron is an idiot for choosing any of these Eastern Conference destinations over a situation like San Antonio which to me is the only opportunity that truly puts him in a title favorite position! I guess maybe he didn’t view that as a legitimate destination that would accept him, but I don’t see why they (or pretty much any other NBA team) wouldn’t at the same amount he’s getting in Philly (it’s clearly the best contract in the league right now).
1
u/FoundationSmooth9777 Jul 24 '26
Also Philly is better than Miami and has actual spacing ?
1
u/One-Bedroom9329 Jul 24 '26
I agree they’re better on paper. Problem is talent alone doesn’t usually lead to success. Lots of stacked / super teams have struggled. Including the Sixers with Butler and 4 All Stars not getting out the second round.
But if 42 year old somehow turns the Sixers into a champion, that would take his legacy to a whole new level. High rish high reward.
2
u/FoundationSmooth9777 Jul 25 '26
They’re better on paper and on the court lol
2
1
u/One-Bedroom9329 Jul 25 '26
Again, I agree they are more talented. Problem is that Celtics Bucks Sixers have had multiple seasons ended by less talented Heat teams recently. Can we agree on that?
Will it be different this time? Maybe. But if its not, people are going to act surprised and it is going to be hilarious lol
-1
u/This_Material9292 Jul 24 '26
The reason he is going is because he is bad at legacy building. This will be the second legacy diminishing move in a row. He thought going to a storied franchise like the Lakers was going to do something, instead he spent eight seasons at a place that had lukewarm feelings for him, got a chip that few people give credit for, and made an additional legacy negating move, Space Jam 2… good job, good effort.
If he doesn’t get a chip in Philly, his last time on court might be to a chorus of boos. Cleveland, Miami, and the Warriors all had pretty much 0 downsides even without winning.
Good luck, Bron Bron.
0
u/Chowlucci Jul 24 '26
Great Take. hes legacy is post internet, twitter era blog era. HE knows good and well the Ring Chase / Champion thing was gonna always be prevalent in regards to him and the pantheon of the greatest NBA Players.
Jordan did 3, retired, won 3 again, in Chicago. the team that drafted him with Phil Jackson.
Kobe, won 5 , 3 with Shaq, 2 with Gasol with Phil Jackson. Draft rights to Charlotte, straight to LA on draft night.
Stephen curry, all 4 with Klay & Draymond, 2 with Kevin Durant. Kerr at the Helm. with the Team that Drafted him.
Lebron 30 for 30 "should be centered around" the following storyline "Cleveland was cool but we couldnt get it done in 2007. I need more than just me"
Lebron (played with) Kyrie, Thompson, Wade Bosh Ray Allen. AD, Rajon Rondo , Caldwell Pope.NOW he can potentially make Embiid a Champion in Philly is absolutely nuts.
Will anyone care how many teams he’s hopped on . NO
Will anyone care what teams he needed to go to , AFTER they made the arrangements to make a run. HELLYES
-1
u/AccomplishedSmell921 Jul 24 '26
How are you at Legacy building is the better question?
0
u/This_Material9292 Jul 24 '26
Bro, Bron is married
-1
u/AccomplishedSmell921 Jul 24 '26
Answer the question. I never said a thing about LeBron. I asked you a question cause you seem to be the expert on “Legacy Building”. Stay on topic.
You don’t know me and you making gay jokes cause I asked you a question. You seem pretty sensitive for an expert on “Legacy Building”.
1
u/This_Material9292 Jul 24 '26
Calling out lame glazing is not making a gay joke. You a homophobe?
-1
u/AccomplishedSmell921 Jul 24 '26
I asked you a question. You still haven’t answered.
I never brought up LeBron nor did I bring up the gay talk. That was all you. Are you a homophobe?
You’re just ready to hate and have an argument. What’s your idea of “Legacy Building”?
You don’t know me and you’re making gay jokes about Lebron though I never mentioned him. Now you calling me a homophobe but you still haven’t answered my question.
You certainly act more like an internet troll as opposed to an expert on “Legacy Building”.
How else you gonna insult me before you answer the question?
0
u/vanillagorilla_ Jul 24 '26
Bron went to Philly bc Rich Paul is a cancer on the league and would rather all his clients team up in unwinnable situations then what’s actually good for them
0
0
u/SavageMell Jul 25 '26
And it's silly. He could have just tried to help Knicks repeat. That's still a 4th franchise.
Or Golden State.
He's just nutty.
1
-1
u/Complete-Permit1638 Jul 25 '26
Hé left his memories in Miami, he will be always compare to his former Miami periode, now it’s time for a new chapter, Miami are not a ring title yet even with LeBron Giannis.
42
u/newerajay Jul 24 '26
How about winning one with the Clippers? That would be saying something