LeBron James is officially headed to the Philadelphia 76ers, deciding to join the team after nearly a month of keeping fans on edge as they waited for him to make his announcement. 

At the start of free agency, LeBron informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not be returning to the team after eight seasons. LeBron was mulling over his options with the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Heat being named by his agent, Rich Paul, as the top potential destinations. 

The Warriors were linked to LeBron early in the offseason, with many speculating that he could team up with Steph Curry as they both chased a fifth championship. 

According to Golden State head coach Steve Kerr, not that close. 

“I didn't even think we were realistically in the running for LeBron. It's just that everyone kept saying we were. It never seemed serious to me despite all the reports," Kerr told ESPN. 

This would go against every report, including comments from Rich Paul, who had the Warriors as the front-runner in the Western Conference. 

Paul, LeBron's agent, said that LeBron's decision came down to the Sixers and the Warriors after he made it. 

Draymond Green publicly said on his podcast that he made a strong pitch to LeBron that would make him think twice about where he would play this season. Curry also made a direct pitch to LeBron. That doesn't mean the Warriors were close, but it does mean he was talking to the top players on the team. 

Kerr would have insight into the process and how involved the Warriors were, but his comments do go against reports and comments from others who would know. 

One fact that would give credence to Kerr's comments is that LeBron wanted to compete for a championship, and the Warriors don't have a championship roster as currently constructed. 

They are running back a team that finished tenth in the West and didn't make the playoffs last year, only this team will be without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody to start the season. 

The Warriors were reportedly in talks to acquire Anthony Davis as a way to strengthen their pitch to LeBron, and it was later revealed that they were in talks to acquire Jaylen Brown, but neither of those deals went through. 

If competing for a title was LeBron's goal, the Warriors would've been last on his list.