Nets Facing James 4 Times a Season After Signing With 76ers

LeBron James has finally made his decision -- heading to the City of Brotherly Love and signing a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers for his 24th and 25th seasons.

That spells some trouble for the Brooklyn Nets. Philadelphia and Brooklyn are in the Atlantic Division, and see each other four times a season.

The Nets lost the season series 3-1. In their lone victory, they entered the fourth quarter with a 15-point lead and almost ballooned it to 20 points, but the 76ers showed some fight late.

Star center Joel Embiid fueled a 10-0 run, cutting into the lead and getting the game within nine points (99-90). Then-rookie guard Egor Dëmin responded to Embiid's run by scoring eight points in the final three minutes to cushion his team's lead and secure the victory.

Brooklyn finished the season with a 20-62 record, and general manager Sean Marks has been active this offseason to revamp the roster. He drafted three rookies -- Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson and Tyler Bilodeau -- signed Keon Ellis and Mo Wagner and traded for Julius Randle.

Marks has strengthened the talent pool, but it may not be enough to deal with his rival's overwhelming star power. James is paired with Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecomb and Embiid.

That could be one of the best starting fives because of Maxey's ability to play on and off the ball, Brown's two-way potential, Edgecomb's athleticism, James' playmaking and Embiid's size.

Questions do arise about their overall fit, the bench depth and injuries. On paper, Philadelphia sounds like one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, but the NBA has yet to see how it plays out.

A mini rivalry should form over the next two seasons. Tickets will most likely sell out in the Barclays Center, as fans have gone from seeing arguably the greatest player of all time twice a season in eight years to four times.

The Nets aren't a contending team, but they can make the playoffs with their new additions. Porter is the biggest domino to fall, as the two parties are negotiating an extension, and his agent believes Brooklyn is a good fit.

The Atlantic Division got tougher with the soon-to-be 24-year veteran joining, and he views the 76ers as a championship organization.

"I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team, and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time," James wrote on X after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported his decision.

Brooklyn is now part of James' championship journey, as division play matters if tiebreakers occur.

Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.

Download the free Roundtable APP, (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/roundtable-rtb/id6450423049) and stay even more connected!