Tyrese Maxey played a major role behind the scenes in helping the Philadelphia 76ers land LeBron James this offseason, according to veteran NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Speaking on The Association on NBA TV, Haynes revealed that Maxey was “relentless” in his efforts to convince the four-time NBA champion that Philadelphia offered his best opportunity to compete for another title.
“I was told he was relentless in his pursuit of trying to convince and sway LeBron James that Philadelphia was his best shot and option,” Haynes said. “I was told he was making it clear he would do whatever it took to sacrifice his game … Tyrese [was] constantly calling and texting LeBron James, making sure that if he had any questions, he would be there to answer.”
The report sheds new light on the recruitment process that ultimately brought James to Philadelphia after he departed the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency. Rather than simply relying on the front office, Maxey reportedly took the initiative by maintaining constant communication with the 41-year-old forward and emphasizing his willingness to adjust his own role for the benefit of the team.
Maxey is coming off the best season of his career. The All-Star guard averaged 28.3 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals while shooting 46.2% from the field and 36.7% from three-point range across 70 games. He earned All-NBA Third Team honors after leading Philadelphia to a 45-37 record and the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.
Despite Maxey’s breakout campaign, the 76ers were swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals after defeating the Boston Celtics in a seven-game first-round series. That postseason disappointment appears to have fueled Philadelphia’s aggressive offseason overhaul.
The biggest move came when the Sixers acquired Jaylen Brown from the Celtics in exchange for Paul George and multiple first-round picks, giving Philadelphia a new star trio of Brown, Joel Embiid and Maxey. James’ arrival further raises expectations for a franchise clearly operating in win-now mode.
Philadelphia also reinforced its supporting cast by signing Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade and Ariel Hukporti while selecting Labaron Philon Jr. with the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Two-way deals for Rayan Rupert and Caleb Love added additional depth.
