Why LeBron James will not be going to the Philadelphia 76ers
By Tony Pesta
![PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 6: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers look on during foul shots at the Wells Fargo Center on April 6, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Simmons;LeBron James PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 6: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers look on during foul shots at the Wells Fargo Center on April 6, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Simmons;LeBron James](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/cfb54e798480c0be37736302c35346a0c8df5e0994991b23b7938b64048400b7.jpg)
The rumors about LeBron James’ impending free agency are endless.
Every day a new story is made on LeBron James’ upcoming free agency decision. Everyone is speculating on which team the King will take his talents to next.
There are a number of fitting options. James has a unique game that can fit into any system. Any team James goes to will instantly become a contender. Because of this, it’s extremely hard to determine where James will end up.
However, it is easy to dismiss the teams he will not be going to. In this article, we are going to dismiss the idea of James joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
Sure, the 76ers have a great young core. The potential within this team is scary. Philadelphia has five key players that are all under the age of 25. They are almost guaranteed to become a great team in the future.
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That is the exact reason why James will NOT be signing with the Philadelphia 76ers this off-season.
In case you didn’t know, James is 33 years old and will be 34 by the end of this upcoming season. This is important because the average age of retirement in the NBA is 34-35.
While James hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, there is no telling how long he can keep being great. These next few seasons could very well be the last stretch of James’ career. James doesn’t have much time to wait for a team to grow.
Is he really going to put his legacy in the hands of a developing team?
Furthermore, there is no reason for James to expect the 76ers to be healthy. In the last three seasons, the 76ers core players have missed a combined 383 games. Joel Embiid has missed 225 games of his own.
Meanwhile, Markelle Fultz missed 75 games this season alone. Ben Simmons has proven to be more durable, but he has only been healthy for one season.
Should we expect James to go to a team where his supporting stars can’t even stay on the court?
Not to mention the fact that the Philadelphia bench is massively lacking. James would find himself in the same position he was in Cleveland, not being able to take a rest even for a second. Also, I can’t imagine Simmons and James working together on the court.
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All of these factors add up to be the reasoning for why LeBron James will not be taking his talents anywhere near Philadelphia next season.