![\"LeBron](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/lebronkobe.jpg\")
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Quentin Richardson will not mention LeBron James in the same breath as Kobe Bryant.<\/p>\n
Rich Paul is in hot water for suggesting that late Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> great Kobe Bryant would have been thrilled to see LeBron James join the Philadelphia 76ers, his hometown franchise.<\/p>\n After James signed a two-year, $8M contract to join the Sixers, Paul invoked Bryant\u2019s name while addressing the move on his \u201cGame Over\u201d podcast.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is something Kobe would be extremely\u2026 I don\u2019t know if proud\u2019s the right word, but like \u2018hell yeah,’\u201d Paul said<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, because \u2014 it\u2019s a competitive move, it\u2019s a challenge. It shows that this guy [LeBron James] really [wants to compete],\u201d Paul added.<\/p>\n Rich Paul says Kobe Bryant would have welcomed the idea of LeBron James signing with his hometown 76ers \ud83d\udc40 <\/p>\n Lakers Fans Rip Rich Paul<\/p>\n According to The Spun<\/a>, Lakers fans on social media have been attacking Paul for assuming what Bryant would have said, more than six years after his passing.<\/p>\n \u201cLets not put words into dead peoples mouths,\u201d one fan wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cBro what has this story come to, enough already. Nobody knows what Kobe would\u2019ve thought so let\u2019s stop it with that,\u201d another fan added.<\/p>\n \u201cRespect to Kobe\u2019s legacy, but not everything has to be made about him. He never played for the 76ers,\u201d a Lakers fan wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t talk about Kobe like that,\u201d one shared.<\/p>\n Why LeBron James Joined Sixers<\/p>\n In his \u201cLast Decision\u201d statement, James made it clear that he signed with the Sixers to chase another championship, and that his decision wasn\u2019t driven by family or money.<\/p>\n \u201cI still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship,\u201d he wrote, before expressing excitement about joining forces with fellow All-Stars Tyrese Maxey<\/a>, Jaylen Brown Joel Embiid on a loaded Sixers roster.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Per multiple insiders, James also chose Philadelphia due to its proximity to New York City<\/a>, where he intends to stay during the course of the 82-game regular season. ESPN\u2019s Ramona Shelburne<\/a> on Monday provided more context behind James\u2019 decision.<\/p>\n James reportedly felt that the Sixers had a higher collection of high-IQ players than his other leading suitors, the Golden State Warriors<\/a>, Miami Heat<\/a> and Cleveland Cavaliers.<\/p>\n \u201cJames ultimately decided that the Sixers had the kind of high IQ basketball players and high-end talent he was looking for,\u201d Shelburne reported.<\/p>\n \u201cHis comfort level with [Bob] Myers and new general manager Mike Gansey, whom he\u2019d known from their days as high schoolers in Ohio \u2014 Gansey was the runner-up to James for Ohio\u2019s Mr. Basketball in 2001 \u2014 and shared time together in Cleveland, helped the cause. As did his agent Rich Paul\u2019s strong working relationship with Philadelphia owners Josh Harris<\/a> and David Blitzer.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tSai Mohan<\/a> covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sportswriter with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit and more. More about Sai Mohan<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \t