“JJ Redick Did It”: Rich Paul Gets Honest About LeBron James Not Living in Philly

Former Lakers guard Patrick Beverley told LeBron James that to really enjoy Philadelphia, he had to live there. Rich Paul had a different answer, pointing to a former Sixer who proved commuting can work.

On the Game Over podcast with ESPN analyst Max Kellerman, James’ agent made it clear the commute question is not a crisis for the 76ers, because J.J. Redick already tried it.

“And I’ll tell you this. Nick Nurse don’t care. Nick, if I’m Nick Nurse, LeBron, you can live on the moon. Yeah, of course. As long as when practice starts, you are there early. And when the game starts, you are there,” Paul said. “But J.J. Redick did that, though. He actually did. Yeah, he lives in Brooklyn. J.J. Redick lived in New York and played for the Sixers, so… But I don’t know.”

The comment came after weeks of speculation that James could base himself in New York or New Jersey and helicopter to Camden and the arena. Those reports followed his July signing and the reality that his family still has roots on the West Coast.

After Redick signed with Philadelphia in 2017, he kept his family in Brooklyn and commuted roughly 90 minutes to the practice facility rather than uproot his kids.

The Limits of the Redick Precedent

Paul did not say James will live in New York. He said the arrangement would not be new, and that the people who run practices would be comfortable with it. That is a different message from Beverley, who argued that living in Philadelphia is the only way the four‑time MVP can feel the city and its fans.

The comparison also has limits. Redick was a specialist, not the face of the franchise. James is 41, in what he called his last decision, and already the subject of “championship or bust” talk. A moon‑or‑Brooklyn commute is easier to sell if the roster lives up to expectations after a summer that brought in James alongside former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.

For now, Paul has given James cover. Nick Nurse, he argued, cares about being on time, not where James will be living. Redick already proved a Sixer can live in New York and still give his best.

Whether LeBron James actually does the same is still unanswered. Paul’s point is that it would not be new, and it would not, by itself, be a problem.