LeBron James said he chose the Philadelphia 76ers because he still enjoyed playing basketball and wanted to win. But according to former NBA player Tim Hardaway, it's a strategic move from the 4x champion that goes beyond LeBron's NBA career.

Hardaway says that LeBron went to Philadelphia to get tutelage from Bob Myers, who is currently serving as the president of sports for the Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE). It owns and operates the Philadelphia 76ers.

"I'm very happy for him, but it's a business decision for him," Hardaway said on the Crossover Podcast on Thursday. "LeBron is just going there to get tutelage and from Bob Myers for when he retires. He's gonna get a team. That's all the speculation."

Myers, of course, has the legacy of leading the Warriors front office as the team's GM from 2012-2023. The Warriors established themselves as the dynasty, winning four titles.

Magic Johnson used Myers' executive reputation to restructure the franchise's front office and spearhead multiple executive hirings.

"He's going to be [tutored] by Bob Myers. So when he gets his team, he knows exactly what to do, how he needs to do it with all the ins and outs," Hardaway added on the Crossover Podcast.

LeBron has long expressed his desire to buy an NBA expansion team, openly communicating this ambition to commissioner Adam Silver. Silver.

This is not the first time LeBron's move has been associated with something other than basketball. When he signed with the Lakers, noise around the league suggested it was for his Hollywood push.

He has always played for a championship. That remains his priority according to his social media post.

But LeBron won't chase an easy path. He wants to earn it. He still wants the grind and the struggle that makes it even sweeter. It was one of the reasons that he didn't sign with last year's top teams.

Rich Paul reveals the real reason that LeBron James didn't sign with the Spurs

It's hard to deny that when LeBron James is a free agent, almost all of the 30 teams in the league want him on their team. During his prime, it was the obvious shot at the title, and at 41, it's his marketability.

He has been a media darling since his first day in the NBA. He is still the most dominant face in the NBA, and the focal point of the media light. It was one of the two reasons that James didn't join the Spurs.

"It's similar to the Knicks...Spurs were the runner-up," LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, said on the Game Over podcast, in a video posted by Yahoo Sports on IG. "When you have a guy like Wemby, you have to respect his growth, his position on the Spurs. It’s not easy. LeBron James shows up; it just doesn’t matter who you are."

Despite being the oldest player in the league and past his prime, LeBron receives the most media attention. Not every player, even big stars, can handle the media attention that comes with LeBron.

Wembanyama is just 22 years old. He needs that space to develop into a star and take a leadership role on his team, organically.

What do you think? Is LeBron’s move purely business, or can he bring a title to Philly? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

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Written by

Nandjee Ranjan

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore