"It's not Curry's fault": The real reason LeBron didn't go to GSW... "Because Philadelphia has a higher championship probability"

*This content was translated by AI.

'King' LeBron James, 42, revealed why he chose the Philadelphia 76ers over the Golden State Warriors.

On the 25th (Korean time), U.S. media Fadeaway World reported, "Why didn't LeBron choose Stephen Curry and Golden State in this year's free agency market?" citing that an ESPN reporter covering Golden State explained why Golden State lost out in securing LeBron.

According to the report, Anthony Slater of ESPN appeared on 'NBA Today' and drew a line by stating, "It wasn't Curry's fault."

Slater said, "On the contrary, Curry was Golden State's biggest draw," adding, "If LeBron had gone to Golden State, it would have been because Curry brought him in."

He continued, "However, LeBron made clear in his statement that this choice was a decision for winning a championship."

LeBron directly announced his move to Philadelphia via his social media (SNS) on the day. Previously, he had declared last month that he would not re-sign with his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming a free agent for the first time since 2018.

Following this, teams including Golden State, his original team the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and the Minnesota Timberwolves entered the race to sign LeBron. After fierce competition, Philadelphia emerged as LeBron's final choice.

LeBron stated, "This is my final decision. It is not about going for money or for family," adding, "At this point in time, I pondered 'What am I truly playing for?'"

He further emphasized, "I still want to sacrifice, continue training and dedicate myself," and expressed his desire to "keep competing and winning, and once again have the opportunity to feel the thrill of a championship."

He also clearly explained why he chose Philadelphia. LeBron wrote, "I believe I can help make Philadelphia a championship team," and added, "I am very excited to energize new fans and begin the final chapter of this amazing journey."

Ultimately, he judged that winning a championship would be more likely in Philadelphia than in Golden State. Analysis suggests that the championship prospects of both teams were the key factors that determined LeBron's final choice.

Fadeaway World stated, "The first concern LeBron felt was the tough competition in the Western Conference," adding, "For Golden State to reach the Finals, they must overcome strong championship contenders like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs."

Slater also explained, "Golden State is in the West. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are holding their ground," noting, "LeBron likely judged that this path to a championship would be more difficult."

Fadeaway World analyzed, "LeBron emphasized another championship as his final goal in his playing career," suggesting, "It appears he determined that Philadelphia, belonging to the Eastern Conference, had an advantage over Golden State both in the path to the Finals and in team strength."

The team composition was also evaluated as more attractive for Philadelphia.

Philadelphia already has Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey anchoring the roster. With Jaylen Brown joining recently and LeBron now added, they have built an ultra-luxury lineup of top-tier league players. LeBron's arrival effectively created a new super team.

Philadelphia had not reached the NBA summit for 43 years since 1983. However, with LeBron's acquisition, they instantly rose as a strong championship contender.

In contrast, while Golden State was linked to several superstars including Anthony Davis, they ultimately failed to secure a major acquisition. Unable to present LeBron with a definitive championship-caliber team, they also failed to win over his heart.

Fadeaway World reported, "It wasn't that Curry lacked anything," stating, "For LeBron, choosing a team closer to a championship was more important than the historic moment of playing alongside Curry."

They added, "While Golden State failed to instill confidence in LeBron about winning through additional roster reinforcements, Philadelphia emerged as the final winner."

In fact, LeBron decided to move to Philadelphia even at the cost of giving up a massive salary. According to ESPN, LeBron signed a two-year contract worth $8 million (approximately 12 billion won) with Philadelphia. The deal reportedly includes a player option for the second year. The average annual amount is approximately $40 thousand won (about 6 billion won).

LeBron earned over $50 million (approximately 73 billion won) in salary last season with the Lakers. By donning the Philadelphia uniform, he gave up about 67 billion won based on salary standards. This demonstrates that LeBron's final goal is clearly focused on winning a championship.

LeBron James is evaluated as one of the greatest players in NBA history alongside 'Basketball Emperor' Michael Jordan. Over 23 seasons, he has appeared in 1,622 regular-season games, the most in NBA history. He has recorded a career total of 43,440 points, placing him atop the all-time scoring list.

He also won the regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP) award four Cha Rye (수상) times, and claimed both the NBA championship and Finals MVP each four times. His career regular-season averages are 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists.

LeBron's skills remained intact even in the 2025-2026 season. Playing for the Lakers, he appeared in 60 regular-season games, averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds. He continued to demonstrate top-tier competitiveness, which is hard to believe for a 41-year-old veteran.

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*This content was translated by AI.