The Philadelphia 76ers are the rich that got richer this offseason, especially after winning the vaunted bidding war for LeBron James. They were always one of the finalists for the superstar, but they certainly didn't look like the favorites leading up to decision day. However, it appears that the team had one key advantage over their competitors, which made a major difference in the race for the superstar. Nick Nurse was reportedly the only coach to talk to the 22-time All-Star, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
While that is not the only reason why the superstar chose to play for Philly, it is definitely an edge that the team ultimately had in such a hotly contested race.
Nick Nurse made a huge difference in LeBron James picking the 76ers
Nurse has only been an NBA head coach for eight years, but he is already an accomplished tactician. He has one ring under his belt, but more importantly, he is widely known as a player's coach despite being more renowned for his on-court wizardry. Now, it appears that his active role in recruiting James was one of the factors that led the superstar to the franchise after a long waiting game.
The 76ers will now parade one of the most talented cores the league has ever seen, at least on paper. James is arguably still the ultimate performer in the league when it comes to high-stakes situations, and he brings with him a wealth of on-and off-court knowledge. Most importantly, he brings championship pedigree.
Nick Nurse has it all for next year
Philly is projected to have a starting unit composed of James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and VJ Edgecombe –– five players who could very well make a case for the All-Star Game next season. LeBron could –– and probably will –– take a backseat in the scoring department, but his elite playmaking and finishing ability will be critical for this team.
Nurse has ample experience engineering a seamless system for talented squads, although factors outside his control have limited his ability to do exactly that. Now, he has all the tools to lead the 76ers to their first championship in more than four decades from the sidelines, and his contribution in bringing in LeBron should not go unnoticed.
The offseason is not yet over, but the 76ers have now seen their chances at the title shoot up. Hopefully, Nurse and his coaching staff can truly maximize the immense talent on their roster after adding LeBron James to the fold.
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