According to Rich Paul, the Philadelphia 76ers are one of the teams that LeBron James is considering in free agency. There are seemingly a surplus of reasons for that development, including Philadelphia's acquisition of All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown.
A new report has revealed an intriguing source of James' interest in Philadelphia that may actually bring him to the team: Tyrese Maxey and their connection as Klutch Sports clients.
It's far from uncommon for players from the same agency to join forces in the NBA. The context for James, however, is that he's a four-time champion who will turn 42 in December and is reportedly prioritizing opportunities to play "meaningful, competitive basketball." In other words: Any team or teammate he prioritizes must be good enough to compete for a championship.
According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, a big reason James is considering the 76ers in free agency is Maxey and their connection through Klutch Sports.
Brian Windhorst on why LeBron James is seriously looking at the Philadelphia 76ers:
— NBABase (@TheNBABase) July 10, 2026
"I will say a big factor here is Tyrese Maxey. I know that so much of the focus is on Jaylen Brown because that's how Philly got into this conversation and they traded for Jaylen Brown last week.… pic.twitter.com/8rROpBwto5
Considering James has made it clear that he wants to compete for a championship, the Klutch Sports connection is seemingly coupled with his belief in Maxey as a superstar player who can help him contend.
Tyrese Maxey a "big factor" in LeBron eyeing 76ers in free agency
Yes, James' interest in playing with Maxey is seemingly founded in the connection they have through Klutch Sports. James wouldn't spend what could be one of the last seasons of his career on a team he didn't believe could compete for a title, however, let alone with a player he didn't believe could help him do so.
It would thus seem to be a combination of their connection through Klutch and James' belief in Maxey's ability to play at a superstar level that shapes his interest in playing for the 76ers.
It's high praise that Maxey undoubtedly deserves. In 2025-26, he recorded averages of 28.3 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 3.1 three-point field goals made per game on an efficient slash line of .462/.367/.892.
In the process, Maxey joined Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the only players who averaged at least 28.0 points and 6.0 assists per game in 2025-26.
Beyond the numbers, Maxey did just about everything for a 76ers team that was forced to shuffle two of its All-Stars in and out of the rotation due to injuries and a suspension. He was constantly creating deflections on defense despite carrying a colossal workload on offense.
Whether or not James signs with the 76ers, his mere willingness to consider tying what could be his final NBA season to Maxey is proof that the star guard is a true superstar.
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