76ers News Revealed: Story Behind James' Signing, Maxey's Training Commitment, and Two-Time Champion Forward Joins Team

On September 9 Beijing time, the Philadelphia 76ers delivered three major pieces of news: 1. The reason LeBron James chose to sign with the 76ers has been revealed; 2. Maxey has continued to work tirelessly during the offseason; 3. Forward Dillon Jones, who won championships in each of the past two seasons, has officially joined the 76ers. Next, we will take a closer look at these updates.

The inside story behind James' signing is revealed

The widely discussed question of "where James would go next" finally has an answer. The legendary player did not choose to return to the Cavaliers or Heat, nor did he choose to team up with Curry, but instead brought his talents to the Philadelphia 76ers. According to American media reporter Tony Jones, after acquiring Jaylen Brown through a trade, the 76ers actively reached out to James. Embiid, Maxey, and Brown took turns recruiting James, clearly expressing his importance to the 76ers and their willingness to make sacrifices for better integration. In the end, James believed the 76ers showed enough sincerity and were also the best choice for him to pursue a fifth championship of his career.

Simply put, setting aside emotional factors, the 76ers have indeed become an ideal choice for the late stage of James' career. First, within the 76ers' system, James can maximize his value by playing the role of a "point forward and key-game controller," without taking on excessive pressure and allowing himself to play at a more relaxed and comfortable pace. Second, compared with the Cavaliers and Heat, the 76ers' roster is nearly without weaknesses and is noticeably younger. Finally, in terms of locker-room atmosphere, Maxey and James are represented by the same agency and have a good relationship, while Brown and Embiid are both willing to share the ball, which particularly matches James' needs. It can be expected that without unexpected injuries, this newly assembled 76ers team will have a strong chance to compete for the championship in the new season.

Maxey's actions match his words

Today, 76ers player Maxey updated his social media and uploaded training photos with his new teammate Anfernee Simons. Although every piece of clothing was soaked with sweat, Maxey's eyes remained determined and he stayed focused on training. Throughout the entire offseason, Maxey has maintained a high frequency of workouts, and nearly all of his social media updates have been related to training. Even during his recent trip to China, he did not relax and was always ready to train with his workout team during breaks between activities.

Why has Maxey worked so hard? In fact, during the second round of last season's playoffs, the 76ers were swept by the New York Knicks, leaving him extremely disappointed. As a result, he promised the media that he would improve his weaknesses during the offseason and return stronger in the new season. Based on his current performance, Maxey has not only made a verbal commitment but has also continued to work hard in training. This kind of persistence is especially valuable in today's league. Last season, the 25-year-old Maxey posted career-best numbers in the regular season, averaging 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, while earning All-Star and All-NBA honors. After his offseason work and guidance from James, Maxey will certainly be a player to watch in the new season.

The addition of a two-time champion forward

Today, the 76ers officially announced that they signed free agent Dillon Jones to an Exhibit 10 contract. The 24-year-old Jones is 1.96 meters tall and weighs 106 kilograms. He primarily plays forward and was selected 26th overall in the first round of the 2024 draft. During his career, Jones has played for the Thunder and Knicks, appearing in 61 regular-season games and averaging 2.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 0.3 steals in 9.7 minutes per game. It is worth mentioning that Jones won championships with the Thunder and Knicks over the past two seasons, making him the only active player currently with a chance to achieve a three-peat.

Considering Dillon Jones' ability and his performances over the past two years, his playing opportunities on this highly competitive 76ers team may appear limited. Why would the team still choose to sign him? The writer believes there are three main reasons: first, a low-cost evaluation, as Jones has solid rebounding and playmaking ability and can defend multiple positions, giving him the potential to develop into a versatile forward; second, increasing internal competition to ensure the final two-way contract spot goes to the most suitable candidate; finally, as a champion over the past two seasons, Jones' "championship mentality" could undoubtedly bring a positive impact to the team.