​Rich Paul explains Rockets’ surprise role in LeBron James’ 76ers decision originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.LeBron James spent weeks weighing his future before signing with the Philadelphia 76ers. Behind that decision was a pivotal moment few fans realized at the time.His longtime agent Rich Paul revealed new details this week on Game Over, the podcast he co-hosts with Max Kellerman, explaining both what convinced LeBron to keep playing and what ultimately steered him toward Philly over Golden State.Rich Paul says Rockets series convinced LeBron James to keep playingPaul opened up about just how close LeBron came to walking away before last season’s playoffs changed everything.”That series, in my opinion, convinced him to keep playing,” Paul said of the Lakers’ first-round win over the Houston Rockets. “I think if they somehow got swept or lost 4-1 in that series, it could be different. I think that gave us another ride.”“That series, in my opinion, convinced him to keep playing… If they somehow got swept or lose 4-1 in that series, it could be different. I think that gave us another ride.”Rich Paul on LeBron James’ win over the Rockets 👀(via “Game Over”)pic.twitter.com/qsbxsjqrhM— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 27, 2026James was outstanding throughout that six-game series, averaging 23.2 points, 8.3 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game, remarkable numbers for a 41-year-old logging nearly 39 minutes a night. He did it largely without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, both sidelined with injuries. The Lakers won 4-2 before Oklahoma City swept them in the second round.The emotional weight of that Rockets series, according to Paul, went well beyond simply advancing. Had Los Angeles been bounced early, James’ legendary career might have ended in purple and gold. Instead, the performance gave him enough belief to come back for one more run.Philadelphia beat out Golden State, not just Cleveland and MiamiPhiladelphia wasn’t just competing with Cleveland and Miami for LeBron’s signature. According to Paul, it came down to two teams, including the 76ers and the Golden State Warriors.”That was a very tough one,” Paul said of the Warriors option. “Who wouldn’t want to play with Steph Curry and Draymond Green in the Bay Area?”Curry actively recruited James throughout the summer and Warriors players were making direct pitches. Paul even had Golden State listed alongside Philadelphia on a whiteboard of franchises under consideration. But several factors ultimately pushed LeBron east.The Western Conference presented a steeper path to a title with Oklahoma City and San Antonio in the way, and the Warriors had roughly $70 million tied up in rehabbing players in Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody. Crucially, Golden State never made a significant roster move the way Philadelphia did by trading for Jaylen Brown.On the Philly side, Paul pointed to Tyrese Maxey as an important facto