Steph Curry’s LeBron James Recruiting Pitch Falls Short as Warriors Miss Out on Free Agency Prize
Steph Curry spent weeks publicly pitching LeBron James on joining the Warriors, but James instead agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Stephen Curry spent much of July publicly courting LeBron James to join the Golden State Warriors, pitching the Bay Area’s culture of winning basketball, championship pedigree, and even the local golf scene. On Friday, the recruiting pitch officially fell short — James agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, closing the book on one of the most closely watched free agency sagas of the NBA offseason.
Curry, 38, has spent his entire 17-year career with the Warriors, helping the franchise capture four NBA championships and reshape the way the sport is played around the three-point shot. With Golden State entering a pivotal offseason and looking to reload around its aging core, Curry took an active role in trying to bring James into the fold, appearing on national television and at a celebrity golf event to make his case directly. James, meanwhile, informed the Los Angeles Lakers in June that he intended to play his 24th NBA season elsewhere, formally ending an eight-year run in Los Angeles and setting off one of the most anticipated free agency searches in recent league history.
Curry’s Public Pitch to LeBron
Speaking after the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament earlier this month, Curry laid out his recruiting pitch in blunt terms. “The pitch is we want to play good basketball and be around people that know how to play the game,” Curry said, adding that the Warriors hoped to “raise our floor on our competitiveness this year.” He also noted the Bay Area’s golf courses, a passion he shares with James, who has increasingly taken up the sport.
Curry doubled down on the sales pitch during an appearance on Good Morning America, telling hosts, “The Bay, we know how to win, beautiful weather, great golf… I think that he would enjoy just the idea of what it means to finish your career the right way.” Draymond Green also publicly lobbied for James, and both stars’ close personal relationships with the four-time MVP fueled speculation that Golden State had become a legitimate frontrunner, a storyline that had bettors checking a DraftKings promo code for James’ next-team odds all month.
LeBron Lands With the 76ers Instead
James ultimately chose Philadelphia over Golden State, Cleveland, Miami, and several other suitors that had reportedly sent voice notes through his agent, Rich Paul, during the process. Rich Paul had told reporters earlier in the month that he’d fielded interest from as many as 27 teams on James’ behalf, with Cleveland, Golden State, and Miami emerging as the most persistent names throughout. The 76ers had entered the LeBron sweepstakes after acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics, giving Philadelphia the young talent and cap flexibility to make a real run at signing him, a move that has Pennsylvania sportsbooks buzzing about the 76ers’ title odds heading into next season.
“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,” James said in a statement announcing the deal. The 41-year-old is coming off a season in which he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds on 51.5% shooting for the Lakers, numbers that made clear he still has plenty left to offer a contender. James’ deal in Philadelphia is reportedly worth two years and $8 million, a modest figure by superstar standards but one that reflects James’ stated priority of chasing a fifth championship over maximizing his final payday.
What It Means for the Warriors
For Golden State, the news means running things back largely as-is. Curry acknowledged that possibility even before James made his decision, saying it was “TBD, because that’s what free agency is about.” The Warriors did retain key pieces this offseason, re-signing Kristaps Porzingis and De’Anthony Melton, while working around injuries to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody that will sideline both for a chunk of the season. Curry said the front office is “doing the best job they can to make the right decisions on what’s available” as the Warriors look to stay competitive in a loaded Western Conference without the addition they spent weeks pursuing.
Golden State’s cap situation had always made a James signing complicated. Barring a corresponding trade, the Warriors’ path to offering James real money ran through the veterans exception, worth only a few million dollars, meaning any deal would have required James to accept a steep discount even by his own modest asking price. Draymond Green’s decision to decline his player option added some flexibility, but ultimately it wasn’t enough to outbid Philadelphia’s pitch. For Curry, the offseason now shifts fully toward preparing a Warriors roster that still features Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and a deep supporting cast, but one that will enter the season without the rival-turned-teammate he spent the summer trying to recruit.