LeBron James at 76ers Media Day

LeBron James spoke at the 76ers Media Day, and he really seemed to embody the classic LeBron persona.

After a summer filled with rumors about free agency, choosing to opt out of his contract, and moving from the West Coast to pursue another championship in the East, he has officially joined the Philadelphia 76ers.

However, even before he has played a single game in a Sixers uniform, he was already talking about expectations and putting pressure on his new teammates.

“If we can do that, then we can be a great team,” he stated.

He went on to emphasize that if things don’t go as planned, it’ll be easy to say, ‘Oh, we had a talented team, but we lost in the second round.’ That’s not what he signed up for. “I know for sure I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round, so we need to put in the work,” he expressed, clearly ready to do his part.

It’s the typical LeBron attitude. Winning means he’s the heroic figure, but if they fall short, it’s not his fault; it’s just that the team didn’t put in the effort.

But then he revealed something interesting.

LeBron admitted he almost signed with the New York Knicks but hesitated after they won a championship without him. He was worried about the backlash from fans, probably recalling the criticisms Kevin Durant faced.

“I had dreams of finishing my career at Madison Square Garden. It’s one of the best venues out there,” he shared. “But once they secured that championship, I thought, ‘I can’t do this.’”

He respected the Knicks, giving props to their players, especially Jalen Brunson, but insisted he was happy about his choice to be in Philadelphia.

He wanted to put an end to the team’s championship drought himself.

Once the Knicks secured a title, LeBron made the move to the 76ers.

His arrival raises questions about team leadership. When asked about who the “alpha” of the team is, Jaylen Brown quickly deflected, saying, “Next question.”

LeBron then expressed admiration for the Philly fans, noting their deep understanding of basketball. “They know ball, and if you’re not performing, they’ll let you know. I’m excited about that,” he added.

As for fitting in with stars like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, he showed confidence. “The beauty of my game is that I can do it all,” he stated. “I really believe I can help make the Sixers a championship team. I’m eager to energize this new fan base and kick off this exciting journey…”

Whether the Philadelphia fans will embrace his message remains to be seen.