What Lebron James Said At 76ers Media Day: Live Updates, Highlights

CAMDEN, NJ — LeBron James is officially a Philadelphia 76er.

The four-time NBA champion made his first public appearance at the 76ers media day on Monday, Sept. 28 at the team's training facility in Camden, New Jersey. James reportedly had several other suitors interested in adding him to their respective rosters, including the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.

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He ultimately chose the Sixers and signed a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option. In Philadelphia, the NBA superstar will look to lead the franchise past the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in two decades alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown, the latter whom the 76ers traded for in the offseason.

USA TODAY Sports is on-site and providing live coverage of James' first media day with the 76ers. Here are some of the notable quotes from the 76ers' media day:

LeBron makes joke at start of Sixers news conference

As LeBron took the podium for his news conference, the 22-time NBA All-Star began with a joke as he removed his name tag from the table.

"You guys know who I am, right?" James said.

“You guys know who I am, right?”

LeBron having fun at Sixers Media Day ???? pic.twitter.com/juYpBI1jbz

— NBA (@NBA) September 28, 2026

Why did LeBron James choose the Sixers? Relationship with Tyrese Maxey

How did James settle on the Sixers? Here's his response:

"I had a list of five teams that I was interested in. I saw my agent on his podcast and saw his whiteboard. I love him to death. He had his whiteboard, and he had all his LeBron teams up there. So I had a group of teams that I was interested in. And I have a really, really good, great relationship with Tyrese (Maxey). We talked a lot, and I kind of picked his brain a lot not only where he sees his career going, how he sees the franchise here, and how much he believes in the franchise. And if I was to come here, how does he see me fitting in? Do we think it'd be a plus, or do we think it'd be a negative?

"Because I understand my personality and what comes with me. Sometimes it can be a negative. I understand some people maybe can't handle what I may bring to the table and I was just asking all the questions that I could ask him and it wasn't just one conversation. But I think our relationship (and) when I broke a lot of the teams down, I broke a lot of the franchises down that I could possibly play for, he was one of the main deciding factors."

What LeBron James said about Joel Embiid

Here's what James said about playing alongside Embiid and helping him in Philadelphia:

"Got to get here first. Not even one day in being in the facility. I am just looking forward to obviously seeing what his process is as well. Joel is one of the most talented guys that we have in the world, and obviously we all know that for him it's just been about health. How can he stay healthy to be the best version of himself? Be the best version of himself to be the best version of us as a team?

"I've seen him put in a lot of work on his body, putting a lot of work in his game, a lot of work on his mental season. That is a big upside, not only for us as his teammates, but I guarantee it is for him. I don't want to speak for him. You guys have talked to him, but I guarantee that's a good feeling for him."

LeBron James speaking on Sixers contract, retirement

How many more years does James have left? He spoke on that and how his contract in Philadelphia is set up, where there's a player option for next season:

"I'm just looking at it every single day on how I can be the best version of myself for this franchise while I'm here. I can't speak into the future right now. I think that would be doing a disservice to myself, just living in the moment, especially knowing that I am where I am in my career. Me trying to focus on what the future looks like would be like, I wouldn't be giving myself grace. I'm more in the present now, understanding that I'm in year 24. It won't be another year plus 24, you know what I'm saying? It's just like being in the moment and just seeing what happens."

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LeBron James on role with Sixers

What will James' role be in Nick Nurse's system? His response:

"Whatever the team needs me to do. I think the luxury of my game is that I can do everything. Literally, I can do everything."

LeBron James on Sixers expectations

The Sixers haven't made it out of the second round of the NBA playoffs since 2001, when Allen Iverson led the NBA franchise to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. With a star-studded lineup that includes others like Maxey, Embiid, Brown and VJ Edgecombe, how does James see expediting the chemistry with the group?

He noted that while it will "take time," the best ways to expedite it are time before practice, film sessions, and bus and plane rides and falling in love with "doing things that's uncomfortable."

That said, James made his expectations known: He didn't come to Philadelphia if he didn't think the 76ers had championship expectations.

"I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round," James said.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What LeBron James said at 76ers Media Day: Live updates, highlights