LeBron James heading to the Philadelphia 76ers was already the biggest NBA plot twist of the summer. But according to his agent, Rich Paul, there was one group whose opinion mattered more than everyone else’s. No, not NBA executives, not fans, not even Charles Barkley. It was LeBron’s family.
Rich Paul revealed that LeBron’s wife, Savannah James, and daughter, Zhuri, were fully on board with the move before the news became official. Apparently, the James household gave the basketball king the green light to pack his bags and head back to the Eastern Conference. When your family says, “Go chase another ring,” you probably don’t argue.
Paul also explained that reaching the final decision wasn’t easy. LeBron reportedly wrestled with the choice until the night before the announcement. After spending years with the Lakers, closing one chapter and starting another wasn’t exactly as simple as changing jerseys.
Then came the critics.
Charles Barkley questioned the move, as only Sir Charles can. But Rich Paul wasn’t interested in letting those comments slide. He fired back, defending LeBron’s decision and making it clear that the NBA champion doesn’t need permission from TV analysts to decide where he wants to play basketball.
A source close to James claims his camp had no idea where he would end up, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“He talked, he learned, he listened and he said nothing,” a source close to James told ESPN’s McMenamin. “He didn’t tell you what he was thinking. He didn’t tell you what he was looking for. And I think LeBron just decided this was the time he was going to make it about what he wanted, and he was going to block out all the noise.”
“The conversations continued with the James family back in Los Angeles last week before James, the father and husband, got the stamp of approval to follow the whims of James, the basketball player, once again. “When you get the green light from Savannah, it means you’re getting the green light from Zhuri,” Paul told ESPN, “because the boys are out of the house.”
By Thursday, back in Los Angeles, the night before news broke of James’ decision, the family was on board after it was made official that he was joining the 76ers.
“Paul was to reach out to the 76ers the following morning to inform them that the four-time MVP, four-time champion and the league’s all-time leading scorer was joining their team,” McMenamin added. “On Friday, James followed a 5:30 a.m. workout with a morning round at Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank, California, when the wheels were set in motion.”
Philadelphia fans are acting like it’s Christmas morning. They just landed one of the greatest players in NBA history, and suddenly championship dreams are back on the menu.
Paul messaged the 76ers, and James posted the news on social media in a shared story with Topps, featuring an image of him in a white No. 23 Sixers uniform next to an autographed 1-of-1 trading card — making history as the first athlete to monetize his free agency that way.
“And then he put his phone down and didn’t take any calls,” a source close to James said.
In all, one thing is certain: when the James family gives its blessing, Rich Paul backs the decision, and Charles Barkley starts talking, the internet is guaranteed to have a field day.
