Seahawks’ Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp Defend LeBron James’ Move to 76ers on Hard Knocks

LeBron James is only a few weeks into life as a Philadelphia 76er, and the reactions still haven’t stopped — including from an unexpected corner of the sports world. During the premiere episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Seahawks,” which aired August 4, cameras caught reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks players discussing James’ decision to sign with Philadelphia over teams like the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

James, an eight-year Los Angeles Laker before this offseason, agreed to a two-year deal with the 76ers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reported the terms after Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul confirmed the move. The deal reportedly includes a player option and is worth $8 million, a steep discount from the roughly $53 million James made last season, per NBA.com.

Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who played with the Los Angeles Rams while James suited up for the crosstown Lakers, offered a basketball-minded read on the move during the episode. “I honestly think the secret here is LeBron knowing this, moving into the role that he’s moved into, like facilitating the whole thing,” Kupp said, framing James’ choice as less about chasing a roster and more about accepting a reduced, mentorship-style role.

Quarterback Sam Darnold pushed back harder on the criticism James has faced since making his decision. “I hate how people are hating on him for going to a good team,” Darnold said. “Everyone’s like, ‘oh, he’s going to a stacked team!’ He’s 42! He can go wherever he wants. Any free agent ever can do that. And any free agent would be like, ‘yeah I want to go play for a championship in my last year or two.'”

“I hate how people are hating on him for going to a good team… he’s 42. He can go wherever he wants… any free agent ever would be like, ‘yeah, I wanna go play for a championship.'” — Sam Darnold on LeBron James joining the 76ers

The exchange was captured and shared by ClutchPoints on X:

"I hate how people are hating on him for going to a good team… he's 42. He can go wherever he wants… any free agent ever would be like, 'yeah, I wanna go play for a championship.'"

Sam Darnold on LeBron James going to the Sixers.

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/6p0gZn2AYg

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 5, 2026

It’s a light moment, but it fits the tenor of training camp. Hard Knocks has followed the Seahawks through joint practices and locker-room banter all week, and the LeBron detour became one of the show’s talked-about beats, according to recaps from outlets covering the premiere. It’s also notable given the Seahawks are the first defending Super Bowl champion to appear on the series since the Baltimore Ravens did so in 2001.

Why the NBA World Is Still Divided

Darnold and Kupp’s take lines up with one side of a broader NBA debate that hasn’t cooled off. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant have both weighed in publicly on James’ decision, according to ClutchPoints, with Durant reportedly drawing comparisons between the new-look 76ers and a championship dynasty. Not everyone has been as supportive as the Seahawks pair — some fans and analysts have questioned whether a 41-year-old James joining a team already built around Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid undercuts the spirit of free agency, even at a steep pay cut.

James addressed the “stacked team” criticism himself when he announced the move, saying he wasn’t chasing money or comfort. “I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship,” James said, according to NBA.com.

That framing — a four-time champion prioritizing a title window over another max payday — is exactly what Darnold pointed to in his comments. Whether it plays out that way on the court is a separate question. James will turn 42 during his first season in Philadelphia, and questions about his durability and role fit alongside Embiid and Maxey remain very real heading into training camp.

The Numbers on James’ Farewell Lakers Season

James’ final season in Los Angeles was his 23rd in the NBA and eighth with the Lakers. Here’s how his production looked before the move east:

Those numbers show a player still contributing at a high level as a facilitator and secondary scorer, not the primary engine he was in his prime — which lines up with Kupp’s read of James stepping into more of a distributor role for his next chapter.

What’s Next

James is set to open his 24th NBA season with the 76ers this fall, his fourth franchise after stops in Cleveland, Miami and Los Angeles. Hard Knocks will continue following the Seahawks through the rest of training camp, with new episodes airing weekly on HBO Max.