LeBron James made the basketball decision by rejecting the Golden State Warriors in favor of the Philadelphia 76ers, but with expectations come pressure which the superstar forward has just placed on his new team.
James declared on media day that "I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round." It's a clear nod to his desire to win a fifth NBA championship, as opposed to the lifestyle reasons that the Warriors were looking to offer the four-time MVP.
LeBron James puts 76ers under pressure Warriors would've avoided
Part of Golden State's pitch to James was the idea of him being able to travel frequently between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, allowing the 41-year-old to see his family regularly as they remain in the City of Angels.
Their pitch also centered significantly around Stephen Curry and Draymond Green -- the ability to play alongside fellow veterans, hang out with two players he's built strong relationships with, and further their golf game together.
On the court, the Warriors would have been one of the most entertaining and must-watch teams of all-time. Having the two most dominant stars of the last 15 years together would have had eyes glued to the team all season long, but that's not to say they would've jumped right into championship contention like the 76ers have.
As much as Golden State could have been a really good team had James come on board, there would have been an entertainment and lifestyle factor behind his decision. Now it's strictly about basketball in Philadelphia which, combined with the fact they haven't made it to the Conference Finals in 25 years, puts enormous pressure on James and the team to perform.
Draymond Green believes LeBron James couldn't get past Warriors rivalry
Green has told Andscape's Marc J. Spears that he believes James couldn't land on the Warriors in free agency because of their rivalry, having stemmed from his time at the Cleveland Cavaliers where the two teams went to four-straight NBA Finals last decade.
The veteran Golden State forward also believes that James' free agency decision took so long because he knew a move to the Bay was the right decision, but not one he could ultimately make as multiple teams pursued the 22x All-Star.
The pressure is now on James and the 76ers to deliver success, otherwise he could look back regretting the decision not to join Curry and Green at the Warriors this season.
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