PHILADELPHIA -- Before LeBron James decided to join the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency late in July, the entire world was watching and waiting to see when he would make his decision and where he would go. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat were strong contenders before James decided on the Sixers.
The Cavs made a lot of sense. James, obviously, has so much history with the franchise that made him the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA draft, he's from nearby Akron, OH, and led the Cavs to their only championship in a historic effort in 2016. Finishing his career there would have been a storybook ending.
Alas, he chose to join the Sixers. After a win over the Cavaliers on Thursday, James was asked if a Cleveland return was in serious consideration during his free agency meetings.
"The nature of the meeting I probably won't discuss much, but it was (in) consideration for sure," James pondered. "I mean, obviously, as a team trying to build towards a championship and things of that nature, and I was trying to decide where I wanted to go with the rest of my career, to finish my career or whatever the case may be, the next step. And a lot of consideration for sure."
James joining the Sixers rocked the sports world, as he joined a seriously talented team, and it left Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson in a world of hurt over the decision.
"I mean, you're anticipating and excited, and then you have that—and this is, I haven't been gone through free agency a lot," started Atkinson on not landing James. "You're just like, expecting something to happen, and it doesn't happen, and you know, that first day or two, you're just like you're depressed. Quite honestly, it's just that's the emotions of it."
To Cleveland's credit, it was able to turn around and land a young, athletic wing in Peyton Watson, which is a big help. The Cavs will be a strong team in the East, despite the blown lead to the Sixers on Thursday, and Atkinson will figure it all out.
"I loved how quickly we kind of just switch gears, right?" Atkinson finished. "We push to get Peyton in the fold and everything we had to do to do that. I mean, that was a complicated maneuver, but it's kind of what Dan Gilbert and Koby and like those guys-they're aggressive and not stand pat. Don't stand pat. I love it. We take risks. We take swings. Great switch to what was a tough blow for us in the beginning."
James and the Sixers will head to Cleveland to take the Cavs on Nov. 6 in an NBA Cup matchup.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers star LeBron James talks Cavaliers consideration before decision