Draymond Green opens up about why LeBron James decided not to team up with Steph Curry on Warriors

For a few months, there appeared to be a very real chance that LeBron James would spend the final part of his storied career playing alongside his longtime rivals. But ultimately, he chose not to join the Golden State Warriors.

James, now part of a loaded 76ers starting unit, certainly could have justified joining the franchise he lost three NBA Finals to. Between his friendships with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, his family already being on the West Coast and the tempting idea of forming an aging yet entertaining duo with Curry, James could have altered the Western Conference landscape again.

A few days after the 76ers' decision, Green — who has been considered a key player throughout James' free agency for multiple reasons — opened up on his show about why he thought James didn't want to come to Golden State.

Here's what Green had to say about James' decision to join the 76ers.

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Draymond Green opens up about LeBron James free agency decision

Green was a central figure in James' free-agent process. Not only is he a known close associate of James, with the two often spotted at offseason events together, but Green even opted out of his Warriors contract in hopes of making room for James to sign. 

There was never a clear, public frontrunner in James' process, though the Warriors were always considered a strong possibility. Instead, he went across the country to Philadelphia — a decision Green tried to rationalize on his show by moving through the other contenders.

"Even if you go back to Cleveland and win a championship, it's not gonna be as good as 2016," Green said. "If you go to Miami and win a championship, it's not gonna be as good as 2012-2013. Those two places kind of got eliminated just because."

Green also addressed James' Warriors fit, saying he thought the former Cavalier wouldn't be able to "get over the history."

"I ultimately don't think Bron was ever able to get over the history. And I understand it, I get it," Green said. "He's gonna get crushed if he comes to the Warriors, 'Ah 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."

Other aspects of the James-76ers signing that Green addressed included rising second-year guard V.J. Edgecombe, who Green believes could be heavily impacted by being a "fifth option."

"If I’m V. J. Edgecombe’s agent, I’m not sure I’m happy with the summer that the 76ers have had. If I’m just V. J. Edgecombe agent, because this could affect a lot for V. J. Edgecombe," Green said. "Like, you go from being sometimes the second option when Embiid was out to sometimes being the fifth option. It’s a big, big difference. I don’t know if y’all understand like how big of a difference that is.”

Why did LeBron James sign with 76ers?

James' decision had a lot of ambiguity over the last few weeks. History and rumors suggested that he may value location and other off-the-court relationships in his process, but all that came from James and his agent, Rich Paul, was that the 41-year-old wanted to contribute to winning and pursue "basketball happiness."

James ultimately decided that the 76ers — rather than the Warriors, Cavaliers, Heat, Timberwolves, etc. — gave him the best chance to compete for a fifth championship, joining three other All-Stars in Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey, plus high-ceiling rookie Edgecombe.

"This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship," James wrote on X, explaining his decision. "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."

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