NBA legend LeBron James can stir up drama and chaos like nobody else in the league. As arguably the most iconic star in the sport today, LeBron’s decisions always carry weight, and even at 41 years old, his free agency was the story of the summer.
By the end of the weeks-long process, LeBron announced his choice to join the 76ers, forming a new superteam to rival the Knicks, Heat, and Cavaliers in the East. The announcement was met with a lot of vitriol from critics, who claimed that James, once again, stacked the deck too far in his favor. But for NFL quarterback Sam Darnold, he doesn’t blame the King one bit for his move to Philadelphia.
“Great, great team. I’m not mad at it… I hate how people are hating on him for going to a good team,” said Darnold on ‘Hark Knocks.’ “Everyone’s like ‘Ohhh, he’s going to a stacked team,’ but he’s 42! He can go wherever he wants. Any free agent ever would be like, ‘Yeah, I want to go play for a championship.’”
Sam Darnold knows what it means to face adversity. After a stellar season for the USC Trojans, he declared for the NFL with massive hype. Early on, however, Darnold struggled to find his footing in the league due to injuries and other setbacks. It wasn’t until he signed a multi-year deal with the Seahawks that things finally began to turn around.
Just like the rest of us, Darnold was monitoring the LeBron situation this summer, and he saw how James was scrutinized by so many people. For many, it’s not just that James spurned his hometown team; it’s that he created a borderline superteam to chase a ring in the final years of his career. Alongside Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and V.J. Edgecombe, the 76ers have a core that’s built to compete, and there may not be a more talented lineup in the league.
“I would rather have the talent and figure it out,” said Timberwolves GM Mike Ganse in a chat on 97.5 ‘The Game.’ “I think it’s gonna work because these guys are going to want to be together, and they see the big picture.”
So while LeBron has nothing left to prove in the NBA (four-time champion, four-time MVP), you can’t knock him for trying to add even more to his illustrious resume. It’s all he’s got to play for at this stage of his career, and it’s what lured him to Philadelphia after 23 seasons. As far as what role we can expect from the King, it won’t be insignificant.
After averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game on 51.5% shooting last season, James proved he can still deliver on the court, and his impact is undeniable. On the 76ers, he can pick up where he left off in LA, serving as a playmaker and point-forward to set up teammates for easy shots.
Best of all, the Sixers have already taken initiative as a team by making preparations and adjustments far ahead of schedule. With the arrival of LeBron and Jaylen comes an opportunity for greatness, and they will not let it slip by.
