LeBron Sets the Tone at 76ers as Kawhi Faces Questions on NBA Media Day
LeBron James used his first public appearance as a Philadelphia player to make clear what he expects from the move, on a media day that also saw Kawhi Leonard confront the investigation that has dominated his summer.
Twenty-eight of the league's 30 teams held media day on Monday, with training camps opening on Tuesday. Houston had held theirs the previous week.
James Sets Expectations
Speaking to reporters for the first time since signing with the 76ers, James left no doubt about his ambitions.
"I didn't leave my family to lose in the 2nd round," he said.
He cited Tyrese Maxey as a key factor in his decision to join a roster that also contains Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown, who arrived from Boston over the summer.
The Brown trade cast a shadow over proceedings in Boston, where Jayson Tatum said he was comfortable taking on the leadership of a reshaped Celtics side.
Leonard Addresses the Investigation
In Toronto, Leonard opened his availability by getting ahead of the obvious line of questioning.
"I know why some of you guys came," he said. "You want to hear about the investigation."
The NBA fined the Los Angeles Clippers $30 million earlier this month, stripped them of five first-round picks and suspended owner Steve Ballmer for a year after finding the club had circumvented the salary cap through Leonard's endorsement arrangements. Leonard paid a $700,000 fine and did not contest his own sanction.
He said he wants to move forward, and lightened the mood by reflecting on the laugh that became a meme at his introductory Raptors press conference in 2018.
His trade to Toronto was finalised a fortnight ago after being frozen for two months while the inquiry ran.
Injuries and Absences
Not every appearance was straightforward. Golden State announced that Kristaps Porzingis will be out indefinitely at the start of training camp.
Jalen Duren did not attend Detroit's media day at all amid a contract dispute, while Washington's Davis will wait until next season before opening extension talks.
Elsewhere there were new faces in new colours. Ja Morant appeared for Portland for the first time, and Ben Simmons posed in Sacramento's kit ahead of a comeback season after sitting out last year entirely.
The lighter moments came from Los Angeles, where Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic traded stories about their offseason competitiveness. Reaves claimed Doncic had tried to change shirts when his rowing team lost, with Doncic countering that he had beaten Reaves at golf two days earlier.
The season begins on 20 October. New York enter it as champions after beating San Antonio in the Finals, with the Spurs and an Oklahoma City side that lost to them in the Western Conference Finals both expected to contend again.
