The Philadelphia 76ers hope to reach the NBA Finals in 2027, with veteran LeBron James helping to lead the way. James is now in Philadelphia, and revealed some of the NBA legends who helped impact his game.

While many people may expect Michael Jordan to be one of those people, James is also pointing to two others.

“MJ inspired me to play the sport, but Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill were the ones that actually shaped my game,” James said on the Mind the Game podcast.

LeBron James reveals the two players who actually shaped his game growing up:

"MJ inspired me to play the sport, but Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill were the ones that actually shaped my game."

(Via @mindthegamepod) pic.twitter.com/uuIyA0YsRe

— NBABase (@TheNBABase) October 13, 2026

James is entering his first season in Philadelphia, after playing many seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won a championship in L.A. During the 2025-26 season, James averaged 20.9 points per game with Los Angeles.

James is considered one of the greatest players to ever play in the NBA. He owns several NBA records, including the all-time leader in points. The veteran has played in the NBA since 2003.

The 76ers hope James is the ingredient needed to bring an NBA championship to the franchise. Philadelphia has recently been a power in the Eastern Conference, but the team hasn't been able to reach the Finals. This season, James is joining the team along with star guard Jaylen Brown.

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James is impressing his new teammates in Philadelphia.

“He’s not talking just to talk. He just commands the room… It’s been like 5 times already where I’m like, ‘Dang, that was brilliant. How come I never thought of that?’… He always has a solution for everything. If I don’t know something, I’m going to Bron,” 76ers forward Jabari Walker said, per NBC Sports Philadelphia.

The 76ers next play a preseason game against the Boston Celtics on Friday.