Windhorst: LeBron’s Philly move will be a “great soap opera”

ESPN’s senior NBA Writer Brian Windhorst expects LeBron James’ move to the Philadelphia 76ers to be a “great soap opera” this NBA season.

The 41-year-old left the Los Angeles Lakers this off-season in pursuit of a fifth NBA championship, signing a two-year deal with Philadelphia.

James joins a Sixers team headlined by 2023 MVP Joel Embiid and 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, adding another superstar to a roster with championship ambitions.

Speaking on SEN's Run Home with Andy & Gazey ahead of his trip to Australia next month, Windhorst outlined the different directions he believes Philly’s season could take.

“I could create cases for the Sixers doing all kinds of different things this year,” Windhorst said.

“They could win the Eastern Conference and get to the finals.”

But Windhorst was quick to point to James’ history whenever he has changed teams as a reason for caution.

The 22-time NBA All-Star has never won a championship in his first season with a new franchise. Most recently, he missed the playoffs with the Lakers in 2019 after making eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances.

“History says that the Sixers are going to have problems out of the gate here,” Windhorst said.

The quality of the roster around James is one factor that could change that history, according to Windhorst.

“They're absolutely loaded with talent, and they have five of probably the top 75 players in the league in their starting line-up,” Windhorst said.

“That’s the recipe for winning a championship.”

James will now have two seasons under contract in Philadelphia to pursue another championship, having previously won titles with Miami, Cleveland and the Lakers.

With how strong the Eastern Conference has become in the off-season, that task may be more difficult for the four-time NBA MVP.

And while it’s one of the many questions that are being asked of Philadelphia this season, Windhorst is excited to see how the storyline plays out.

“I say this with all sincerity. I don’t know (how the 76ers go),” Windhorst said.

“(But) it’s going to be a great soap opera for us to watch.”