LeBron James is edging closer to his free agency call, and the Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly taking an unusual route in their push to land him.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the 76ers’ front office is not speaking with James directly right now. Instead, the recruitment effort is being handled by the players, a setup that stands out in a chase this big.
Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown are reportedly leading the pitch on Philadelphia’s behalf, with Maxey in the front as a fellow Klutch Sports client. McMenamin said the players are the ones talking to LeBron directly, then passing along what they hear to the front office.
That kind of arrangement is a risky look in a sweepstakes for a player like James. The Cavaliers, Heat, and Warriors are all still considered possible landing spots, and those teams have been working the process through their front offices with more consistent, hands-on involvement.
James recently said his decision is coming “sooner rather than later,” which only sharpens the spotlight on how each team is approaching the chase. If Philadelphia stays on this path, it could come off as a muted effort to James’ camp, especially when compared with the more active push from Cleveland, Miami, and Golden State.
The 76ers also don’t have much built-in history with LeBron to lean on, which makes the lack of direct organizational involvement even harder to ignore. In a race this tight, the players can help make the case - but Philadelphia may be asking them to carry too much of the load.
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