PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers are in the middle of trying to get everybody on the same page as they continue on with the 2026-27 season. They have a number of highly talented players and need to nail down chemistry and cohesion in order to reach the mountaintop in the upcoming season.
LeBron James is one of those players who the Sixers are looking to integrate and build around one of the greatest, if not the greatest, players in the history of the game. A winner of four championships, four finals MVPs, four regular season MVPs, and a slew of other awards, James has the respect of his peers in this league.
In fact, Chicago Bulls coach Tiago Splitter faced James in the 2013 and 2014 finals as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. James and the Miami
Heat got the best of Splitter and the Spurs in 2013 before falling in 2014. Either way, James is 41 and in his 24th season while Splitter, also 41, is looking to move the rebuilding Bulls forward.
"Yeah, I think I know that guy," Splitter laughed before the Sixers dispatched the Bulls on Monday. "No, LeBron is unbelievable. I mean, of course, I face him, and in two finals, but you know, it's unbelievable to see him playing and competing at this level. We have the same age, and just looking at him doing what he does is unbelievable."
James is averaging 16.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 7.0 rebounds through six games as a member of the Sixers, far off from his 26.7 points per game career average, but to be able to put up these types of numbers in year 24 and at 41 years old is still impressive. The NBA is getting younger, more athletic, more talented, but the future Hall of Famer is still chugging along and continuing to be a difference maker on the floor.
When asked what he would say back in 2014 if he was told he would be coaching against James in 2026, Splitter laughed.
"I don't know," said Chicago's coach. "That you're crazy."
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Bulls' Tiago Splitter gives thoughts on LeBron James playing 24 years
