Jabari Walker has seen plenty in the NBA, but the newest chapter with the Philadelphia 76ers has given him a different kind of look at LeBron James.
Walker, who was part of the 76ers from the 2025-26 season, is in a rare spot to compare the old setup with the roster Philadelphia built during a major 2026 offseason shakeup. That summer brought Jaylen Brown over in a trade with the Boston Celtics and added James to the mix, along with more new faces. The result has been a locker room that looks and feels a lot different - and Walker says James has had the clearest influence.
James’ reputation carries obvious weight. As the longest-tenured player in NBA history, he’s earned the kind of respect that makes people stop and pay attention when he speaks in a team setting.
For Walker, that respect was already there from watching James grow up and then lining up against him in the league. Being around him every day has only sharpened the view.
Walker has shared locker rooms with stars before, including Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Damian Lillard. Even so, he described James as something a little different when it comes to leadership.
"The leadership, I didn't realize he was so vocal. When he talks, you just want to be quiet and just listen.
It always makes sense. He's not talking just to talk.
He's very direct, very meaningful, very impactful. He just commands a room," Walker said about James' leadership in the locker room.
That’s the kind of presence that changes more than just the conversation. James brings the obvious value of a great player, but Walker’s comments point to something bigger: a voice that younger players want to hear because it comes with detail, purpose, and real basketball knowledge.
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Sixers Still Have A Preseason Availability Problem Before The Games Count
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There was at least a little movement on Wednesday, with Anfernee Simons and Adem Bona taking part in practice in a limited way. Their status for the final preseason game against Boston is still up in the air, but any step forward matters for a group that has been navigating a crowded injury report and a few moving parts across the organization, including new front-office hires for the Delaware Blue Coats. [Read more 🡒]