LeBron James Begins 76ers Chapter: ‘Basketball Is Not Oatmeal’

For the first time in his career, LeBron James attended media day as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. Wearing No. 23 and standing in front of a locker bearing his name, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer spoke on Monday, 28 September, about why he chose Philadelphia, what he expects from a star-filled roster and why patience will be essential.

James signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers in July after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, according to NBC News. He announced the decision on social media, describing it as his “last decision” and saying he still loved the game and had more to give. He is entering his 24th NBA season and turns 42 in December.

Maxey was the deciding factor

The clearest message from media day was the role Tyrese Maxey played in bringing James east. According to NBA.com, the two have trained together every summer since 2020, when Maxey adjusted his schedule to work out with James. “I had a group of teams that I was interested in, and I have a great relationship with Tyrese,” James said. “He was one of the main deciding factors.”

Maxey described the experience of seeing James at the team’s facility in Camden as “really just weird” in the best possible way. NBA.com reported that after Philadelphia acquired Jaylen Brown in early July, Maxey actively recruited James, and the move followed soon after.

How the roster fits together

The 76ers now have an unusually decorated group. NBC News reported that the team’s projected starting five has combined for 36 All-Star selections and five MVP awards. At its centre are Joel Embiid, Maxey, Brown and James, four players accustomed to being primary options.

• LeBron James: four-time champion, four-time MVP and all-time leading scorer.
• Joel Embiid: former MVP whose availability remains the key variable.
• Tyrese Maxey: the guard who recruited James and could play more off the ball.
• Jaylen Brown: acquired in early July and a proven playoff performer.
• Contract: James is on a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option in year two.

Sharing the ball among that many scorers is the obvious challenge. James addressed it directly. “If we want to accomplish something really important, there will be collective sacrificing in a good way,” he said. “It’s not negative.” He argued that taking fewer shots could leave players with “extra bursts of energy in the fourth quarter to slide over and take a charge” or chase an offensive rebound.

‘Basketball is not oatmeal’

James was also careful to manage expectations. He warned that talent alone does not produce instant chemistry. “It’s going to take time,” he said. “Basketball is not oatmeal. Everyone wants instant oatmeal.” He added that it takes repetition after repetition and that players must be “comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

The analogy is memorable, but the point behind it is serious. Star-heavy teams often start slowly as players learn when to take over and when to defer. Rotations, spacing and defensive responsibilities all need to be worked out in real games. James has experienced this before, and his comments suggest he expects bumps early in the season.

Embiid’s fitness and Maxey’s new role

Embiid arrived noticeably slimmer but declined to go into specifics. “I won’t get into all the details of what I did, but felt like I did the right things,” he said, according to NBA.com. His availability is the biggest question for the team: NBA.com noted that he has played just 42 percent of games over the past three seasons.

Embiid also stressed the importance of peaking at the right time. “You got to build it up because you want to be at your peak in April, May,” he said. That approach aligns with James’s own message: the regular season is a process, and the priority is being ready for the playoffs.

Maxey, meanwhile, could benefit from the new arrivals. With James, Brown and Embiid all capable of creating offence, NBA.com suggested he may spend more time playing off the ball, taking catch-and-shoot three-pointers and running in transition rather than always initiating possessions. That could make him more efficient and less fatigued.

• Watch Embiid’s games played; his health determines the team’s ceiling.
• Track how often Maxey plays off the ball compared with last season.
• Note who closes games; late-game roles often reveal a team’s hierarchy.
• Look at James’s minutes as the team manages his workload at 41.

A marquee opening night

The 76ers will not have long to settle in before a major test. According to the NBA’s key dates calendar, Philadelphia visit the defending champion New York Knicks on opening night, 20 October, at Madison Square Garden. It is one of three games on the league’s opening-night schedule.

Those early matchups will draw attention, but James’s message suggests they should be treated as part of a longer journey. A team with this much star power is built for the spring, and the regular season is the period in which the pieces must learn to fit.

For fans in Malaysia who have followed James through Cleveland, Miami and Los Angeles, seeing him in a 76ers jersey is a reminder of how long his career has lasted. His fourth NBA team is a genuine contender, and his decision to join it reflects a player still chasing titles at an age when most have retired.

NBC News noted that James averaged 20.9 points per game with the Lakers last season, the lowest mark since his rookie year. In Philadelphia he will not need to carry the same load, which may suit him perfectly. If the sacrifice he described becomes reality, the 76ers could become one of the most formidable teams in the East.

There is a financial story here too. A two-year, $8 million deal is a small figure for a player of James’s stature, and it allowed Philadelphia to assemble a remarkable group without stretching their payroll further. Whatever happens on the court, the arrangement reflects a player who valued the chance to compete over the size of his final contract.

The contract also leaves him free to decide his own ending. NBC News reported that the second year is a player option, meaning James could still choose to retire next summer. For now, his focus is entirely on making this experiment work, and media day made clear that he intends to be patient while it does.