LeBron James sat down at Philadelphia 76ers media day on Monday, tossed his name placard to the floor and asked reporters whether they knew who he was. It was his first time speaking publicly since choosing the 76ers in July, and the start of a 24th NBA season, which no player had reached before.

James, who turns 42 on December 30, is on a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, according to terms his agent, Rich Paul, gave ESPN in July. Asked whether it would be his last contract, he said he was focused on the present, not the future.

Why Philadelphia

James said he had considered five teams, which ESPN lists as Philadelphia, Cleveland, Golden State, Miami and Minnesota. He called his relationship with Tyrese Maxey one of the "main deciding factors," and said he had asked Maxey, over more than one conversation, how he saw the franchise and how James would fit.

Maxey said he tried to recruit James two years ago without much luck. This time, he said, things got interesting once the 76ers traded for Jaylen Brown in early July and he heard James did not want to return to Los Angeles.

The team he pictured first

In a separate interview with ESPN's Dave McMenamin, James said he had pictured another destination: the New York Knicks. "I had visions of playing in [Madison Square] Garden and finishing my career in the Garden," he said. The Knicks' Finals win over San Antonio in June changed that. "I couldn't do it," James said, telling ESPN the reaction to joining the new champions ruled the idea out.

His agent had gone further. On his Game Over podcast on July 3, Paul said James would have been going to the Knicks had they not won the title. James did not say that himself on Monday.

What he expects

James said a roster this new would need time, that nobody should expect instant results, and that every player would have to sacrifice something. The Knicks swept the 76ers in the second round in May, and he was clear about why he had come.

I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round.

LeBron James, at 76ers media day

The 76ers have not reached the conference finals since 2001.

Embiid's plan stays private

Joel Embiid has played in 42% of Philadelphia's games over the last three seasons, according to NBA.com, and last season the 76ers went 24-14 in his games and 21-23 without him. On Monday he said he wanted to play as much as possible and be at his best in April and May. He said there was a plan to keep him healthy but did not describe it, and no games target or minutes limit was made public. That was our 76ers question going into media day, and it is still open.

What comes next

Training camp opened on Tuesday. The 76ers open the preseason at home to the Knicks on October 5, then start the regular season at Madison Square Garden on October 20, the night the Knicks raise their championship banner. James makes his home debut against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 22.