Philadelphia 76ers forward Jabari Walker praised LeBron James’ leadership and influence on the team, revealing how the NBA superstar’s communication during film sessions has already made a strong impression on his new teammates.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, October 12, Walker said he had not fully appreciated how vocal James was before joining him in Philadelphia. The 41-year-old forward signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers in July after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Yeah, just the leadership. Like I didn’t realize he was so vocal,” Walker said. “Another guy, when he talks, it’s just like you just want to be quiet and just listen. It always makes sense.”
Walker emphasized that James does not speak simply to fill the silence, describing his contributions as direct and meaningful.
“He’s not talking just to talk. He’s very direct, very meaningful, very impactful, and so he just commands a room,” Walker said. “And you see why LeBron is so respected and why he’s done the things he’s done.”
Asked whether a particular moment had stood out during his first weeks around James, Walker said the veteran had already provided several examples of his leadership.
“Man, it’s been like five times already where I’m like, dang. I was thinking afterwards, like, how come I never thought about that?” Walker said.
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“Usually when we’re watching film, I think we’ll ask a question and then the room will just be like, ‘We’ll think.’ And then Bron’s like, ‘No, let’s start off this way and do this just to build team camaraderie and earn each other’s trust, and then we’ll switch it up to this later on,’” Walker recalled.
“I’m like, ‘That makes so much sense.’ Everybody’s like, ‘Yep, Bron, we with you.’ So he always has a solution for everything. That’s the way I feel. If I don’t know something, I’m going to Bron.”
Walker also highlighted the respect James has earned through his longevity, noting that his experience gives him a natural voice within the group.
“It’s a respect factor when you play 24 years, and I think he’s earned the floor for a lot of those film sessions,” Walker said.
James joined a Philadelphia roster that underwent a major offseason transformation. The 76ers acquired Jaylen Brown in a trade with Boston, while maintaining Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid as central figures in their plans. James took a veteran-minimum deal after spending the previous several seasons with the Lakers.
