Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant shared words of high praise for Philadelphia sports fans.
NBA superstar and Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant just unexpectedly helped the Philadelphia 76ers' case to land LeBron James.
Durant, who was in attendance for the MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia, gave credit to the local fanbase.
"Philly fans, man, they got the most passion," Durant told NBCS' John Clark. "It's up there, I think. Everybody on the East Coast is pretty passionate, from New York, Boston, Philly. Usually those three are the most radical fans when it comes to at the ballpark, at the arena, being loud."
Why is this relevant to the Sixers' pursuit of James?
Well, ESPN's Dave McMenamin shared the 22-time All-Star is looking to be accepted and celebrated at the next, and likely final, destination of his illustrious career.
"He's a guy that likes being liked and he likes being accepted and celebrated," McMenamin shared.
Where would James be more loved than in Philadelphia, especially if he ends their 43-year championship drought?
The 76ers also offer as strong an opportunity as anywhere for James to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy a final time before calling it a career. They could roll out a star-studded starting five of Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, James, and Joel Embiid. James would be heavily utilized as a playmaker in this lineup while his scoring and defense could take a backseat role.
It is fair to argue the passion of Philadelphia fans could have the opposite effect.
If James is struggling during the season or fails to lead them deep in the postseason, the four-time NBA champion will likely find himself the victim of heavy criticism from analysts and fans alike. Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris are a few prime examples of players who have experienced this.
So, Durant's complement to the fanbase could work for or against the Sixers' pitch to James. The hope is undoubtedly the 22-time All-Star will view it as the former.
Join The 76ersRoundtable
Head over to the 76ersRoundtable page and hit the "Join" button at the top of the page... it's completely FREE! You'll have the opportunity to engage with other 76ers fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts on the organization, and more. If you're asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app... that's free too.
Anthony Pasciolla is the publisher of 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached via email at [email protected] or followed on X @AnthonyPasci.
