Philadelphia 76ers president Mike Gansey revealed that acquiring Jaylen Brown was the key move that helped the franchise convince LeBron James to join the team, saying the All-Star forward changed the outlook of Philadelphia’s roster.
“I called Rich Paul right away and said, ‘Hey, we got Jaylen, is there a chance LeBron wants to come to us?’” Gansey said. “‘This changes some things.’ We don’t get LeBron without Jaylen.”
The 76ers entered the 2026 offseason looking for a new direction after firing former president of basketball operations Daryl Morey in May. Gansey took over basketball operations and quickly made a major move by adding Brown, which ultimately created the opportunity to bring in James.
Philadelphia’s roster already featured a strong foundation with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Maxey led the team during the 2025-26 season, averaging 28.3 points, 6.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 46.2% from the field and 36.7% from three-point range in 70 games.
Embiid averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 38 games. Adding Brown and James gives Philadelphia another layer of elite perimeter talent around its existing core.
The 76ers finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 45-37 record, earning the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia advanced past the Boston Celtics in a seven-game first-round series before being swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Brown’s arrival gave Philadelphia another two-way wing capable of defending top perimeter players and creating offense. His addition also reportedly changed the perception of the roster around James, who was looking for another opportunity to compete for a championship late in his career.
James joined Philadelphia after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers following the 2025-26 season. At age 41, he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds over 60 games while shooting 51.5% from the field.
The move gives the 76ers one of the league’s most experienced cores. James has won four NBA championships and four MVP awards, while Embiid is a former MVP and Maxey earned All-NBA recognition after his breakout season.
