# Former Sixers President Pat Croce on spirituality for LeBron's team > Pat Croce links locker room spirituality to LeBron James' Sixers success. - Title: Former Sixers President Pat Croce on spirituality for… - Summary: Pat Croce links locker room spirituality to LeBron James' Sixers success. Former Sixers president Pat Croce says spirituality and sacrifice will help LeBron… - Keywords: pat croce, lebron james, sixers, nba, mindfulness, locker room spirituality, championship drought, comcast spectacor, ed snider, 2001 sixers, joel embiid, tyrese maxey - Source: PhillyVoice — https://phillyvoice.com/sixers-pat-croce-lebron-james-nba-mindfulness-2001-finals-iverson - Published: 2026-10-19T09:01:00.384+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: pat croce, lebron james, sixers, nba, mindfulness, locker room spirituality, championship drought, comcast spectacor, ed snider, 2001 sixers, joel embiid, tyrese maxey ## Pat Croce's spiritual advice Former Sixers president Pat Croce says spirituality and sacrifice will be key to LeBron James and company finding success this year. > I've been blessed with attempting to take the truth, these understandings, and tailor them to what I call 'locker room spirituality' ## Croce's 2001 Sixers legacy Croce led the 2001 Sixers to the NBA Finals before stepping down in July 2001 after a falling out with Ed Snider. > See Ya Later, Motivator ## Croce's spiritual journey Croce started his spiritual journey in 2015 after reading a quote from travel writer Pico Iyer about changing one's mind. > So much of our life takes place in our heads, memory or imagination or interpretation or speculation, that if I really want to change my life, I might best begin by changing my mind ## Croce's current role Croce is a teacher of mindfulness and meditation with a 53-acre Meditation Hill retreat in the Philly suburbs. > Enjoy Your Self Now! 66 Sacred Shifts to Instantly Awaken the Peaceful Presence Within You ## Croce's health challenges Croce underwent treatment for rare bone marrow cancer and climbed Mount Everest in March 2026. > I've been blessed with attempting to take the truth, these understandings, and tailor them to what I call 'locker room spirituality' ## LeBron's signing LeBron James signed with the Sixers on a veterans minimum deal to play his 24th NBA season in late July 2026. > Holy s, -! I wish he was available when I ran the team ## Sixers' championship drought The Sixers haven't won an NBA title since 1983 and haven't returned to the finals since Croce's era. > Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional ## Croce's coaching challenges Croce says coach Nick Nurse faces challenges managing the team's talent, defense, and LeBron James. > How do I do this? ... How do I work the defense? How do I work with LeBron? ## Spiritual lessons from 2001 Croce believes the 2001 Sixers found their flow state by embracing roles around a superstar like Allen Iverson. > They were the best holes in the flute that they could be, and it allowed the music to be played ## Sacrifice for success Croce says players must be open, empty of memory and projections to listen to LeBron's sacrifice advice. > You have to be open, empty, empty of memory, empty of projections, empty ## Vulnerability as strength Croce believes vulnerability makes athletes invincible by removing the ability to be hurt or taken advantage of. > If I'm fully vulnerable, how can you hurt me? There's nothing that you can sneak around ## Croce's personal growth Croce learned new skills like woodworking and Chinese and Tibetan calligraphy he never thought possible. > I didn't know I could do woodworking. I didn't know I could do Chinese and Tibetan calligraphy ## Croce's advice for fans Croce urges Sixers fans to enjoy the season without projecting expectations for championships. > Don't project in this 82 games to just anticipate rings and parades ## Croce's book Croce's new book offers insights on living fully in the present through meditation and mindfulness. > Enjoy yourself now ## Sixers' upcoming season The Sixers open the 2026-27 regular season Tuesday against the New York Knicks. > We can wish that. You can think about it, but the point is that the 'now' is where life is ## Key takeaway Former Sixers president Pat Croce says spirituality and sacrifice will help LeBron James' team win this NBA season.