For nearly a month, the basketball world waited on LeBron James to make his latest decision. 

Before free agency officially got underway on July 1, LeBron informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not be returning to the team for a ninth season. 

The moment the Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs, LeBron's future with the Lakers was in question. Almost immediately, LeBron was linked to the Golden State Warriors due to his friendship with Draymond Green and his respect for Steph Curry and Steve Kerr. 

Throughout the offseason, Draymond and Steph publicly stated they had talked with LeBron and made their respective pitches. Draymond said that his pitch would make LeBron think twice about his decision. 

In the end, while the Warriors were in the running, LeBron decided to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. 

On the Draymond Green Show, the four-time NBA Champion gave his explanation as to why he thinks LeBron didn't join the Warriors. 

"I ultimately don't think Bron was ever able to get over the history and I understand it, I get it... he's gonna get crushed if he comes to the Warriors, 'ahhhh man you went to team up with Steph' and ultimately I think that weighed in on the decision a lot, that played a big role in the Warriors not landing LeBron," he said. 

LeBron and the Warriors battled in the NBA Finals in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. The Warriors won three of the four series, but LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers won perhaps the most memorable series when they came back from being down 3-1 against the 73-win Warriors. 

To an extent. LeBron was going to be criticized no matter where he went because the teams he was choosing from were all playoff contenders. 

While it is true that he would've been joining up with the second greatest player of his generation and he team he battled and lost to three times in the Finals, these aren't the same Warriors. 

Steph is in the twilight of his career. The Warriors were a tenth seed and not even a playoff team last season. Of all the teams he was mulling over, they are the furthest away from a championship and have done nothing this offseason to prove their championship status. 

Even if they acquired Anthony Davis, the Warriors do not have a better roster and would not have been a better basketball fit for LeBron than teams like the 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, or Cleveland Cavaliers. 

LeBron joining the 2026-27 Warriors is not the same as Kevin Durant joining the 2016-17 Warriors.