Rich Paul says LeBron James is enjoying a different experience with the Philadelphia 76ers than he had during his final seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Speaking on the Mind the Game podcast, James’ longtime agent pointed to Philadelphia’s roster and the opportunity to compete without carrying the same responsibilities.
“When you’re in years 22, 23, 24, and you still have something left in the tank, it’s a beautiful situation where you can position yourself alongside other guys that can play roles at a high level that give you a real chance of winning,” Paul said. “And you don’t have to be someone that you’re no longer capable of being today.”
At 41, James is averaging 16.2 points, 7.3 assists and 7.0 rebounds in six games for Philadelphia. He is playing 33.2 minutes per game, shooting 45.1% from the field and 23.8% from three-point range.
The 76ers have started the 2026-27 season 7-1, with Tyrese Maxey leading the team at 29.1 points per game. Jaylen Brown is averaging 20.6 points, Joel Embiid 18.5 and VJ Edgecombe 12.7, giving Philadelphia several established scoring options alongside James.
That distribution differs from James’ final season in Los Angeles, when he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games. He played 33.2 minutes per game, the same average as in Philadelphia so far, but took 15.3 shots per game compared with 13.7 this season.
Philadelphia’s next game is Wednesday, November 4, against the Detroit Pistons at 7 p.m. ET.
