LeBron James said on September 28, 2026, that he left the Los Angeles Lakers after six seasons to join the Philadelphia 76ers and help Joel Embiid win his first NBA championship. James made the explanation during an appearance on the Mind the Game podcast. James said the Lakers loss to Oklahoma City in the playoffs forced him to question whether he wanted to keep playing. After taking about six weeks away from basketball, James said his body and mind felt refreshed, and support from his wife and children helped him realize he was not ready to walk away from the game. Why Did LeBron Pick Philadelphia? Philadelphia also carries personal basketball history for James, who played at the Palestra during his high school senior season. Tyrese Maxey was among the first people to contact James during free agency, and James said he has known Maxey since before the guard entered the NBA, including a visit Maxey made to James's home at age 19. Embiid appears to be the central reason behind the move. James pointed to Embiid's MVP award, Olympic gold medal, All Star selections, signature shoes, financial success, and family, then identified an NBA championship as the one major achievement still missing from the résumé. James also said he is eager to mentor Philadelphia's younger players after more than two decades as a professional and roughly 30 years in basketball.