Jason Kidd didn’t hesitate when the conversation turned to LeBron James’ game. For the Hall of Fame guard, the comparison came naturally - not because James is a mirror image, but because the way he sees the floor feels familiar.
In an interview with “ ALL-STAR Magazine,” Kidd pointed first to Nikola Jokic before landing on James as the closer match to his own style.
“Well, I’ve talked about the Joker [Nikola Jokic]. But since you brought LeBron up, I would say LeBron’s game is- my game is closer to LeBron, even though his game is at a different altitude.
He has the ability to make plays for his teammates; his IQ and understanding of what’s going to happen before it happens is very high. So, I would say those are the two players when you talk about just their passing and basketball IQ.”
That’s high praise, but it fits the way James has long been viewed around the league. Yes, the athleticism, power, and versatility jump off the page.
But Kidd’s point was about the stuff that drives an offense from the inside out: the passing, the timing, the feel for what’s coming next. James has built a career on that kind of control, and Kidd clearly sees him as one of the rare players who processes the game at an elite level.
Kidd also addressed the offseason move that had everyone talking: James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers. In his view, that decision immediately changes the temperature in the East.
“I think the one that’s going to stand out and everyone’s talking about is LeBron going to Philly. It automatically puts Philly in the talks of winning the championship.
They could be the best team in the East. That’s just him at 42.
He still has that power, so it’s just a credit to him.”
He didn’t stop there. Kidd also highlighted the young backcourt in Philadelphia, naming Maxey and V.J. as part of what makes the fit so dangerous.
“But also I think Philly because they have a young backcourt that’s very exciting to watch, Maxey and V.J.,” Kidd continued. “So, I think they’re the team, and that’s the move. That’s 1A.”
Kidd did mention the Miami Heat as contenders after the acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, but his attention kept circling back to the 76ers and the ripple effect of James joining them. Even at 41, James is still treated like a force who can tilt the league’s balance, and Kidd made it clear he believes Philadelphia now has that kind of weight.
The bigger question now is how far that playmaking can go when James is surrounded by elite offensive talent. Kidd’s view is simple: the tools are there, the pressure is real, and the spotlight is only getting brighter.
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For Philadelphia, McBride makes sense mainly as a backup ball-handler option, the sort of depth piece that can help stabilize a rotation without changing its shape. Still, he does not look like a must-target player for a team that already has more prominent pieces handling the ball and creating offense. If the Sixers pursue guard help, this would be more about adding insurance and flexibility than chasing a headline move. [Read more 🡒]