Saquon Barkley Tries to Recruit LeBron James to 76ers in Video Amid NBA Free Agency Rumors

As the NBA world continues to wait and see where LeBron James is going to play next season, the Philadelphia 76ers got some help recruiting the future Hall of Famer from a prominent athlete in their own city.

Asked what his advice would be about playing in Philadelphia, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley told reporters his pitch to James would include telling him the City of Brotherly Love is "a great spot" to go out with a bang by bringing a title to the Sixers.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that the Sixers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are the three teams that stand out the most in discussions around the NBA about James' potential landing spot.

The Golden State Warriors are another team hoping to land James, but ESPN's Anthony Slater noted last week they "don't necessarily believe that they're at the top" of his list.

Philadelphia's entry into the sweepstakes seemed to pick up steam in the wake of its surprise trade with the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown.

Adding Brown to a 76ers starting group that already has Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid could understandably hold a lot of appeal to James.

Signing James would also do a lot to boost the Sixers' depth since Dean Wade, who joined the team on a four-year, $39 million deal in free agency, would be bumped to the bench as a defensive stopper and reliable low-volume three-point shooter.

The Sixers are also starved for a championship, particularly in the aftermath of their two biggest rivals — the Celtics and New York Knicks — winning titles in the last three years.

Philadelphia hasn't won an NBA championship since the 1982-83 season. The franchise hasn't been to the Eastern Conference Finals since the 2000-01 season.

If James were to join the 76ers and helped them end their title drought, he would be a Philadelphia legend even if his stint with the club only lasted one season.

Barkley can attest to that because he became an Eagles icon in his first year with the club after signing a three-year, $37.8 million deal with the club in March 2024.

In his debut year with Philadelphia, Barkley ran for 2,005 yards in the regular season and 499 yards in the playoffs to help the Eagles win Super Bowl 59.