LeBron James Discusses New Role with Sixers During Media Day

James highlighted his relationship with Maxey as a key factor in his decision to join the Sixers. He stated, "I had a group of teams that I was interested in, and I have a great relationship with Tyrese. We talked a lot... about where he sees his career going, and how he sees the franchise here. That relationship was one of the main deciding factors."

The connection between Maxey and James dates back to 2020 when they first worked together ahead of Maxey's NBA Draft. Maxey recalled how their workouts evolved over the years and expressed excitement about working together on the Sixers.

Joel Embiid was also present at the media day, noticeably thinner and tight-lipped about his weight loss regimen. He emphasized his commitment to staying healthy in order to be available for the team, particularly in the playoffs. Over the past three seasons, Embiid has played in only 42% of the Sixers' games.

James addressed the need for sacrifice among the team’s star players regarding shot distribution. “If we want to accomplish something really important... there will be a collective sacrificing in a good way,” he said. He noted that such sacrifices can lead to increased energy and better overall performance.

The process of building chemistry among the team will take time, James acknowledged. "It’s going to take time. You want to do something special? It takes time, and repetition. In order for us to be great, we have to do things that are just not comfortable."

Maxey, who is known for his shooting ability, expressed his readiness to adapt his game to playing off the ball more this season. With the addition of Brown and James, he expects to take more catch-and-shoot opportunities, complementing his versatility on the court. He stated, "The opportunity that this roster presents for me is to play off the ball a little bit more, more catch and shoots. I think it’ll be good for our team.”