Category: NBA

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Yaxel Lendeborg excited to circle Cameron Boozer rematch after Warriors' loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAS VEGAS – The start to Las Vegas NBA Summer League was a reunion of sorts for Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. 

Taken with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Lendeborg earned bragging rights with two straight wins over his former Michigan teammates Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9 pick) and Aday Mara (No. 12 pick), beating the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder. His third game in Las Vegas was a chance for revenge. 

Lendeborg squared off with No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer once last season when Michigan played Duke in a highly contested battle. Both college stars put on a show at the Edward Jones Capital Classic in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21. 

While Lendeborg outscored Boozer 21 to 18 in that game, Michigan fell 68-63 for only its second loss of the season. Lendeborg also had seven rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocked shots. Boozer added 10 rebounds, seven assists and also blocked two shots. 

Just about five months later, Boozer’s team again got the best of Lendeborg’s in the Warriors’ 106-85 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday at Cox Pavilion on UNLV’s campus. And Lendeborg again outscored Boozer. 

Lendeborg scored a team-high 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting to go with a game-high nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. He was a minus-28 in barely under 29 minutes. Boozer was a game-high plus-35 in 26 minutes with 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. They each were more aggressive in the second half after slow starts. 

“I liked this one a lot better than that Michigan vs. Duke one,” Lendeborg said after the loss. “I had a lot more chances to guard him in this one, and same with him guarding me. It was a lot more fun getting to go up against a talent like that. Sucks that we lost the matchup, but we’ll see him again in the regular season.” 

Coach Khalid Robinson certainly took note of the heavyweight bout, too. 

“It was two very talented players, two very physical guys,” Robinson said. “It was a fun matchup to watch and obviously something that’s going to go on for a long time in this league.” 

Watching Lendeborg and Boozer go against one another felt like a rivalry happening in real time. There wasn’t trash talk, but a look in their eyes of each proving who the better player is. They matched up against one another as much as possible and neither ducked any smoke. 

The highlight of the first half was Lendeborg going right at Boozer in transition. Lendeborg put his left shoulder into Boozer’s right, knocking him back to create separation. He gathered his dribble and finished the play with Boozer watching the ball go through the net from out of bounds. 

Look at the strength of Yaxel Lendeborg going right at Cam Boozer 👀 pic.twitter.com/tNJ9UVGGsW

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) July 14, 2026

He had a similar finish on Boozer in the second half, too. When the Warriors’ regular-season schedule is announced, Lendeborg admittedly will have his eyes on games against Boozer and the Grizzlies. 

“Yeah, absolutely. I’m always gonna circle that matchup,” Lendeborg said. “… I’m excited to see him again, and hopefully we can get on the winning side.” 

Between the California Classic and Las Vegas, Lendeborg’s 3-point shot has stood out as much as anything. In a game where he missed both of his 3-point attempts on Tuesday, Lendeborg’s physicality is what stood out most. 

Lendeborg consistently looked to get to the rack. He just didn’t always convert – at least not on his first try. 

Yax 💪

📺 @NBCSAuthenticpic.twitter.com/OYZdBcPYAW

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) July 15, 2026

There were multiple instances where he followed his own miss and converted a putback. Those kinds of energy plays are what the Warriors are looking for out of Lendeborg, knowing he has the natural strength to make an impact in handful of ways. 

“That’s what we’ve asked of him,” Robinson said. “He’s brought it, but you have to bring it consistently and that’s just the challenge of being a pro. He’s a really physical player, and for our team, we have to have that level of physicality to start every game and consistently throughout.”

Another look at the strength of Yaxel Lendeborg, but a slight limp after pic.twitter.com/MoUMMIMfrt

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) July 15, 2026

This is where Yaxel Lendeborg has been at his best this game

His shot isn’t falling, but his NBA-ready frame is so obvious pic.twitter.com/gnSLCIuUNx

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) July 15, 2026

A familiar-but-new face to Lendeborg was on the sidelines of Cox Pavilion. Warriors coach Steve Kerr was in attendance for his first summer league game this year. Kerr sat next to general manager Mike Dunleavy, as well as newly hired associate head coach Frank Vogel. Though Vogel hasn’t officially signed his contract with the Warriors, he was all smiles getting to know Golden State’s coaching staff. 

Seeing Kerr on the sidelines was a surprise to Lendeborg. When reminded of Kerr being there after the game, Lendeborg shook his head and said how frustrated he was that Kerr’s first look at him was a loss. He’d even change some of the words he knows Kerr heard him say right in front of him. 

“There was one play I was very frustrated and I yelled a couple curse words,” Lendeborg said. “I realized, ‘Oh my God I got to relax, he’s right there.’ He kind of heard the bad side of it, but I tried to keep my composure as much as I could.” 

The Warriors’ loss dropped them to 2-1 in Las Vegas and 4-2 overall this summer. Tuesday also was the first game Lendeborg has lost in a Warriors jersey. Their next game is Thursday against the New York Knicks at 4 p.m. PT.

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The NBA Summer League kicked off last Thursday, and several former Wisconsin Badgers have looked to make their names known as they battle to make their respective team’s rosters.

Last year, the Badgers had their first draft pick since 2022 when John Tonje was taken by the Utah Jazz in the second round. Tonje enjoyed a quality rookie season in the G League, averaging 18.1 points and 4.6 rebounds a game while splitting time with the Salt Lake City Stars (Utah’s G League affiliate) and the Maine Celtics (Boston Celtics G League affiliate) after being traded midseason.

Tonje is now playing for the Celtics Summer League team, and he’s been off to a fantastic start.

In Boston’s first game, Tonje had 20 points, hitting five threes, while having a clutch steal and dunk that helped seal a three-point overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors. In their next game against the Charlotte Hornets, Tonje had an efficient 17 points on 8 of 10 from the field, while hauling down five rebounds.

He did struggle a bit in Boston’s third game, scoring five points on 2 of 8 from the field in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Nick Boyd is also participating in this year’s Summer League after going undrafted last month in the 2026 NBA Draft. He signed a deal with the Golden State Warriors after the draft and is looking to compete for a roster spot or a G League spot there.

Playing on the Warriors Blue team during the California Classic, Boyd had a couple of solid games to kick off Summer League. He struggled in his first contest, scoring 11 points on 2 of 10 shooting in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. But Boyd followed that up with a double-double, dropping 11 points and 10 assists in a loss to the Sacramento Kings, while shooting 4 of 7 from the field.

In the final game of the California Classic, Boyd had 13 points and five assists, while shooting 5 of 13 from the field. He was the starting point guard for all three games on the Warriors’ second G League team.

Boyd has now played in one of the two games since the official G League start in Las Vegas. He did not suit up for Golden State’s first game, but had 14 points, two assists, and two rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench in the team’s most recent game, while shooting 5 of 6 from the field.

The other former Badger playing is center Steven Crowl, who signed a deal to play for the Detroit Pistons ahead of Summer League.

After being a DNP in Detroit’s first game, Crowl has seen some minutes off the bench for the Pistons in their last two contests. In their second game, an 11-point win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Crowl had two assists, a block, and an offensive rebound in eight minutes of action, while being a +5 in the box score.

He saw a bigger role in their third game, playing 19 minutes, while scoring five points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out two more assists. He was a +6 in his minutes.

Summer League continues on Tuesday and will go on for the next few days, as each of the three players will look to make the most of their minutes. But, there have been some positives from Tonje, Boyd, and Crowl in their early action so far.

Game Details

When: Tuesday, July 14, 4:00 p.m. ET
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus, Prime Video
Follow: @LibertyBallers

The Washington Wizards are shutting down AJ Dybantsa, Tre Johnson and Will Riley for the remainder of Las Vegas Summer League, The Athletic’s Joshua Robbins reported Tuesday.

Dybantsa flashed his relentless rim pressure, elite athleticism and finishing ability through two contests. He scored 27 points — which tied Blake Griffin for the most by a No. 1 pick in their Las Vegas Summer League debut —in a 92-88 win over the Utah Jazz before tallying 23 points in Washington’s 104-85 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

The Wizards’ No. 1 pick averaged 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists across those two contests. He used his 6-foot-9 frame to tally 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game as he flashed an impressive defensive motor.

One of the few blemishes on an otherwise impressive showing was Dybantsa’s shooting efficiency. The BYU product shot just 39.4% (13-33) from the field and 9.1% (1-11) from 3-point range.

In what served as his lone appearance, Johnson tallied 26 points on 11-20 FG. He scored from all three levels, knifing into the paint for contested layups, pulling up for mid-range jumpers and knocking down a pair of 3-pointers.

Riley shook off a shaky opener to dominate the Kings on Sunday. The second-year wing scored a game-high 32 points while making six of his eight 3-point attempts. He shot 70% from 3-point range on 10 attempts across two Summer League contests.

The Wizards return at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday against Caleb Wilson and the Chicago Bulls before facing Keaton Wagler’s Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The Lakers are a franchise that always empowers its stars.

LeBron James had a ton of say in what the Lakers did during his time as the No. 1 player. Luka Dončić reportedly wanted the Lakers to acquire Walker Kessler, and the front office got it done.

And now, with Austin Reaves re-signing with the Lakers on a max deal, he’s the No. 2 behind Luka, making him a big part of what the Lakers do.

During a recent interview on the “Dan Patrick Show,” Reaves explained that he was in constant communication with Luka, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick during this offseason.

“I had a lot of talks with Rob. I’m really close with Luka and JJ as well. We’re just building something that can be sustainable for not just now but the future. I seen something the other day that I’m the oldest guy on the team and I’m 28. That’s actually crazy to me. We want to have success now and five, six, seven years in the future.”

The Lakers have committed a ton of money to Luka and Reaves. This is the new star duo in LA, so they will be in the know and have a lot of say. That’s not a bad thing. The Lakers are heavily invested in them, and it’s best to make sure most of the big decisions and the main plan are ones they are on board with and like.

Pelinka is still running things, so decisions fall on him, but it’s good to keep Luka and Reaves in the know.

This summer has been transformational for the Lakers. As Reaves said, they’ve gotten much younger. And now they are built around Luka and Reaves.

At least for now, it seems everyone is on board with the plan. Now we just need to wait for the fall to see how it looks in action.

We’re still in the heart of the offseason, though, so it’ll be a while before we see the new-look Lakers in action. For now, it’s summer, and with Reaves getting a huge payday, he should celebrate his success and the raise.

So far, as he discussed on “The Dan Patrick Show”, he hasn’t really done that.

“I haven’t bought myself anything. Actually, my financial advisor told me the other day that I needed to spend more money. So, I struggle with that. I mean, I’m more, I like getting gifts for other people so I’ve done a little bit of that.”

It sounds like being Reaves’ friend is a good thing to be right now. Hopefully, Reaves can treat himself and enjoy his new deal. Perhaps he can buy himself a great set of golf clubs or take a vacation to a place he’s always wanted to go. He’s certainly earned it, and once the NBA season starts, it’s back to work, and the time for extended fun will be over.

And when the Lakers play again, Reaves will be the No.2 in every way possible. His usage reflects that, as does his pay and insights into the franchise’s decisions.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

The Brooklyn Nets got a bit of a reality check on Saturday night. After cruising past the Knicks on Friday, the Nets dropped lost 83-76 to the Atlanta Hawks on a night where the main attractions — Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin — rested on the second night of a back-to-back.

But tonight, the young cornerstones are expected to return.

Brooklyn shifts its focus to an evening showdown against the Sacramento Kings (1-1) at the Thomas & Mack Center. Tuesday brings forth another summer subplot we missed in Sacramento: a clash between the No. 6 and No. 7 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.

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📺 Watch: YES!

• Who: Brooklyn Nets vs. Sacramento Kings
• When: 6:00 PM ET
• Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
• TV/Stream: YES Network, Prime Video

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🏀 The Game

With Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin watching from the bench on Saturday, Summer League coach Dutch Gaitley handed the keys over to Ben Saraf and Drake Powell. The backcourt had its growing pains — Saraf dropped 15 points but shot only 4-of-14 from the floor in 32 minutes. Powell shot 0-for-4 in 24 minutes played.

“I’ve been working with my coaches on my shot,” said Powell. “They’re not going in right now. But I’m going to continue to put them up and have full confidence that they’ll go in… Some nights are obviously hard when I’m by myself in the hotel room. But just been [having] constant conversations with my circle and continuing to trust them and my coaches.”

Back to Brown Jr. and Dëmin.

Of course, Stephen A. Smith screamed “BOX OFFICE!” at cameras the day after Brooklyn selected Mikel Brown Jr., and proceeded to mention how they should be the next team to be part of expansion. Darius Acuff Jr. could have a great career and we’d be thrilled! But the focus in Brooklyn is on Brown Jr. — and only Brown Jr. No matter how much hype has been around this matchup.

It doesn’t need to be anything more or less than that. Keep an eye on how these two young floor generals attempt to set the tone early.

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📈 Big Impressions

Although it’s lottery guards who have generated the headlines, Saturday’s loss to Atlanta spotlighted two guys in the frontcourt who came to play.

• Chaney Johnson: The two-way forward was everywhere once again, racking up 20 points, 10 rebounds, and a whopping 5 steals. He’s currently averaging 15 points and nine rebounds in Las Vegas Summer League, pushing the issue with high-energy on both ends of the floor.
• Danny Wolf: The second-year big led the scoring effort alongside Johnson, putting up 20 points of his own on an efficient 9-of-16 shooting.

Meanwhile, forward Joshua Jefferson made his highly anticipated Summer League debut on Saturday. The aggression was there, but so was the rust. He shot 1-of-8 from the field to go along with two turnovers in nine minutes.

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🕒 Load Management

If you’re wondering why you didn’t see Brown Jr. or Dëmin in the box score on Saturday, it simply isn’t worth overthinking. It’s Summer League, and for the Nets, the priority is balancing development with keeping the franchise cornerstones in one piece. That’s not mentioning they’re playing extra basketball — only seven franchises (eight total teams) play in the California Classic before heading over the Vegas.

“That’s the goal,” Nets summer league coach Dutch Gaitley said.“The goal is a nice off-day … get some work in on Monday, and then we’re ready to play the Kings and, hopefully, avenge our first loss of summer league.”

It’s the right move. Long-term evaluation is the name of the game here. Minutes need to be earned by others, and Saturday gave the staff another look at what Saraf and Powell can (or can’t) do when they’re forced to take the reins.

Make no mistake, the main act returns tonight. But this is all exhibition, the Nets are not going to do anything that might jeopardize their future, particularly in back-to-backs

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Welcome to NY, Keon!

Did you think you’d wake up today and think about New York real estate? If your answer is no then you’re probably having a less stressful day than Keon Ellis. Like most who move to New York, Ellis discussed what it’s like looking for a place.

Asked Keon Ellis how he's feeling about living in NYC:

“Oh, my god! Trying to find a house, it’s tough. I have to sacrifice something, some space, the prices, it’s a lot. But I’m definitely excited to walk around the city and hit different spots and all the restaurants. I hear… pic.twitter.com/Florv2bOQh

— Erik Slater (@ErikSlater_) July 14, 2026

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Tip-off is at 6:00 PM ET. Join the Game Thread at 5:30.

• Nets ‘beast’ making strong case for expanded NBA role with Summer League performance – ClutchPoints
• Nets showing off draft lottery combo they hope will be the future – NY Post
• Julius Randle, Keon Ellis give Nets two different guides for a young roster – New York Daily News

LeBron James reportedly shifts ‘focus' to three teams in NBA free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LeBron James’ NBA free agency decision still is not here — but the picture around it just got a lot more specific, and the news is not entirely good for the Warriors.

ESPN’s Shams Charania provided an update on “NBA Today” Tuesday, revisiting a report he first delivered weeks ago that identified the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Warriors as the three leaders in James’ decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons. Those three teams still are in it. But the landscape around them has shifted — and Golden State’s position within it has changed.

“Those three teams are still in it,” Charania said. “The Sixers have since acquired Jaylen Brown. Minnesota already got LaMelo Ball. They are also two of the teams that are involved.”

Philadelphia landed Brown in a blockbuster trade with Boston on July 2, sending Paul George and four draft picks back to the Celtics. Minnesota, meanwhile, added Ball around the same time of the offseason. Both moves inserted their franchises into James’ decision.

That widened the field to five teams. But Charania drew a clear distinction between which five are still involved and which three still are the real focus.

“My understanding is, right now as we speak, LeBron James has the information that’s needed to make a decision,” Charania said. “The feel is that those five teams remain in the mix, but a focus on Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia.”

@ShamsCharania latest update on LeBron James' free agency 👑

“There's a focus on Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia." pic.twitter.com/0P3Cv0F93O

— ESPN (@espn) July 14, 2026

Golden State and Minnesota, in other words, are technically alive — but no longer appear to be where James’ attention is concentrated. That is a meaningful shift for a Warriors fan base that has spent weeks watching Draymond Green opt out of his contract and reportedly spend time with James personally, all in pursuit of pairing him with Steph Curry for one final championship run.

There is also a layer of irony in the current focus group. Two of the three teams James is reportedly zeroed in on — Cleveland and Miami — are franchises where he has already won championships and spent significant portions of his career. Whatever “new team environment and culture” James is searching for, according to Charania, it may end up looking a lot like somewhere he has already been.

Charania was also clear about what is not driving the decision.

“This is not a money-driven decision,” he said. “So you have teams that are offering him minimum deals, exceptions, some salary cap space as well. He’s able to take his time and sift through this.”

Team presidents and general managers still are in contact with James’ agent, Rich Paul, this week, and James has reportedly listened to voice notes from multiple team owners delivered through Paul. Charania said a decision “could be really any day, any week now.”

During the Warriors’ NBA Summer League game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday in Las Vegas, Golden State GM Mike Dunleavy said the team’s roster is close to being finalized.

“We’re getting close to finalizing the roster here.”

– Mike Dunleavy Jr on the Warriors 👀

(h/t @MindOfBron) pic.twitter.com/NAgP4o042J

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 14, 2026

For the Warriors, that means their recruiting pitch still has a pulse — but as of this week, it is no longer one of the three pitches getting the most attention.

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Observations after Sixers suffer first summer loss despite more Philon highlights originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers fell to their first loss of the Las Vegas summer league on Tuesday.

With a 90-64 defeat to the Rockets, the Sixers dropped to 2-1 in Vegas.

Rookie Labaron Philon Jr. kept adding to his summer league highlights package with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting, four assists and two steals.

The Sixers will be back at it Wednesday and face the Magic at 4 p.m. ET. Here are observations on their loss to Houston:

Tougher time for Broome 

The Sixers fell behind early for the first time in summer league and never recovered.

The team’s offense was far less fluid than in its first two games. The only Sixer on the scoreboard outside of Philon in the first quarter was Dante Maddox Jr., who hit a free throw with 1:38 left in the period. The Rockets took a 17-5 lead.

Johni Broome faced a bit of extra defensive attention and physicality after averaging 21.0 points and 12.0 rebounds over the Sixers’ first two contests.

The second-year big man struggled. Broome settled for two three-pointers in his opening stint and missed both. He also failed to convert all three of his free throw attempts on the day.

Broome ended with just two points on 1-for-5 shooting and three rebounds in 22 minutes.

Philon effective at three levels 

Philon drained a pretty step-back three on the Sixers’ final possession of the first quarter. 

.@LabaronPhilon put him to work! pic.twitter.com/JNoKXegFXo

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 14, 2026

Though scoring inside will be a greater challenge against NBA defenses, Philon has shown impressive three-level ability this summer. The 20-year-old has gone 7 for 18 from three-point territory (38.9 percent), looked rather polished in the mid-range, and found ways to reach the paint. He burst to the hoop for an and-one layup early in the second quarter. 

philly philon with the TOUGH take 🔥 pic.twitter.com/p8AepYUNoL

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 14, 2026

Philon has averaged 19.7 points and 5.7 assists through three games. For a player drafted late in the first round, he’s been excellent overall. Philon has done strong work against a variety of defenders and coverages, including the Rockets’ blitzing Tuesday.

Small semifinal odds

The Sixers’ deficit grew as high as 29 points in the third quarter. While the team made a spirited push late in the third, that was a very safe lead for Houston.

Amani Lyles had a productive day off the bench, adding 13 points and three rebounds in 12 minutes, but no one could truly turn the tide for the Sixers.

Especially with their loss being a blowout and point differential serving as a key tiebreaker, the Sixers’ chances of advancing to the summer league semifinals are now slim. They’ll presumably need to beat Orlando and get help elsewhere to wind up with a top-four spot.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Nets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

With the exception of two-time All-Star Julius Randle, the Nets didn’t go big-game hunting for splashy stars. It simply wasn’t their plan after losing 62 games this past season. Instead, they opted to stay young and build depth while maintaining some of that flexibility we so often hear about.

The stars of this show are going to be their own. Mikel Brown Jr. has looked solid in Summer League and so has Egor Dëmin. Other players like Chaney Johnson have also made a name for themselves.

Contrary to Sinatra’s “It was a very good year” — it was a very tough year for Nets fans. A ton of losses and a Knicks championship. Not the best. However, the Draft and more specifically, the combination between the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League have seemingly given this fanbase a sigh of relief. However, the reality can still be tough if the team is losing games come December.

At least for the time being, how do you feel? Has Summer League changed anything for you?

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💬 Discussion

Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

It’s been 43 years since the Philadelphia 76ers won an NBA championship.

As a refresher, that team was positively loaded. It put “Big 3s” and the “Heatles” to shame.

Mo Cheeks, an eventual Hall of Famer, was the head of the snake as the starting point guard. Andrew Toney, who might’ve been on a HOF path if not for poorly-handled foot injuries, shared the backcourt. While Marc Iavaroni started, Hall of Famer Bobby Jones came off the bench as a defensive maven. Of course, the Good Doctor, Julius Erving, was manning the small forward spot.

Despite Dr. J’s individual accolades, the Larry O’Brien trophy still eluded him and the organization. They lost in the Finals three times and the Eastern Conference Finals twice. They needed something to get them over the top to defeat the rival Boston Celtics and Showtime Los Angeles Lakers.

Big man Moses Malone was coming off his second MVP award while a member of the Houston Rockets. The Sixers pulled off a sign-and-trade to acquire the Chairman of the Boards, and the rest is history. Malone spent only three seasons in Philadelphia (we can all disregard his age-38 season in 1993-94) yet has his No. 2 hanging in the rafters and is considered a legend around these parts.

LeBron James, who turns 42 in December, was born a year and half after Erving and company finally broke through. Imagine for a second if James, arguably the greatest player in basketball history, chose to play in the City of Brotherly Love and was able to deliver this franchise its fourth title?

Forget about GOAT. James would be worshipped here. He’d be a god — a deity held in the highest regard. While “Go Birds” is one of our greetings and “Red Octobers” have become the norm, Philly is still a basketball town. The presence of James and his ability to aid in a championship would simply bring that out.

If you watched the Home Run Derby on Monday night, you saw what Philly is all about. The fans booed every player competing against Kyle Schwarber, including the St. Louis Cardinals’ Jordan Walker, who won the event. Even Walker himself respected the energy from the crowd — as did his family, who were in attendance.

Jordan Walker talked about the wrath of the boos at Citizens Bank Park.

“My thought was ‘Philly’s brutal’ obviously.
…but think it’s pretty special cause they love their players, and that’s what you want from your home (crowd). Honestly, I’ve never heard people cheer so loud… pic.twitter.com/AlmWe9wX2V

— 97.5 The Fanatic (@975TheFanatic) July 14, 2026

All that love for a guy in Schwarber, who was not a homegrown talent yet is adored here. Think about Bryce Harper, who unfortunately was bounced in the first round. Philly hated Harper with the fire of thousand suns when he was a Washington National. Did you see the reception he got Monday night? Every player should dream about that kind of environment — even one as decorated as LeBron.

Allow yourself to dream for a moment. Picture opening night down in South Philly. The starting five that takes the floor that night: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, James and Joel Embiid. That’s the best starting five in the NBA. Hell, that rivals the 1983 squad for one of the greatest five-man groups of all time. (Maybe the team can ask Matt Cord back for one night?)

But truly, that’s not all. President of basketball operations Mike Gansey retooled a weak bench. Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons and Ariel Hukporti replace Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes and Andre Drummond. Labaron Philon Jr. is a gifted rookie who could still have a role on a star-studded team. And don’t forget about guys like Justin Edwards, Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona. They’ve helped the Sixers win games in the past and will now be asked to take on more appropriate roles.

This is a golden opportunity to win. If James can guide the Sixers to a title, he will be the first player to win four rings with four different franchises. You want to stand alone in history? That’s surely one way to do it.

And it will be a great theme for the documentary.

It was 43 years ago when Moses parted the postseason seas and led the Sixers to the promised land.

While royalty wasn’t popular in Philly back in 1776, if The King wins here, the entire city would be his throne.

LeBron James and Stephen Curry are both headed to New York this week, which means the NBA rumor mill is about to overheat.

Curry finished third at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe on Sunday, continuing his run as one of the best celebrity golfers in the field. The Warriors star then reportedly flew to New York to attend the 2026 ESPYs on July 15.

James, meanwhile, is also expected to be in New York for Fanatics Fest appearances.

That may mean nothing.

It also may mean everything, because this is LeBron free agency and coincidence has no part in the conversation.

Golden State remains one of the teams chasing James, along with Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia and Minnesota. Cleveland is still widely viewed as the favorite, but the Warriors continue to hover because they have something most teams do not: direct access.

According to Brian Windhorst, James has been reaching out to players on interested teams as he weighs his decision.

“LeBron is reaching out and talking to players on some of these teams,” Windhorst said, explaining that those players then report back to their general managers or coaches that James called.

That is where Golden State’s pitch gets interesting.

Anthony Slater reported that Warriors decision-makers have not expressed much optimism that they will ultimately land James, and they have viewed Cleveland as the most likely destination from the beginning. But Slater also noted the Warriors know they have an advantage because Curry and Draymond Green can reach James directly.

Green has already been doing his part. He recently spent time with James in Puerto Rico, including a golf outing that sent speculation into overdrive.

Curry has been involved, too. He has confirmed being in contact with James, and his pitch appears to center on the historic nature of the partnership: Year 18 for Curry, Year 24 for James, two old Finals rivals trying to squeeze one last championship run out of the era they helped define.

So yes, maybe Curry and James being in New York at the same time is just a scheduling happenstance.

Or maybe it is another little breadcrumb in a recruitment that has already included vacation pitches, voice notes, front-office calls and plenty of tee times.

The Warriors may still be chasing Cleveland.

But with Curry and Green able to call James directly, Golden State is not exactly waiting quietly.

Why LeBron James to Warriors would be ‘weird' for Sharks star Macklin Celebrini originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Many celebrity personalities around the Bay have been excited and hopeful about the possibility of the Warriors signing LeBron James. Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini has a different initial feeling on the matter.

“It’d be weird,” Celebrini recently told ESPN. “It’d be weird just because of that rivalry with LeBron on the [Cleveland Cavaliers]. I feel like they’ve been going at it every step of the way. I’d be like if Ovi [Ovechkin] and Sid [Crosby] played together.”

Macklin Celebrini on LeBron James potentially joining the Warriors:

"It would be weird. It would be weird just because of that rivalry with [LeBron James] on the Cavs and I feel like they've been going at it every step of the way. So, it would be like if [Alex Ovechkin] and… pic.twitter.com/AmQLLiImZ0

— Chef (@CurryForGame) July 14, 2026

Two of the greatest players of all time teaming up does feel a little strange, but something similar did happen in free agency 10 years ago. Kevin Durant signed with the Warriors in July 2016, and the league wasn’t ready for it.

“They never been a winning organization… Nobody liked Golden State… It felt like still an underdog to me… I'm looking at the totality of the franchise… Not what happened the last 5 years."

Kevin Durant on signing with the Warriors in 2016 👀pic.twitter.com/qMA4x3EVMK

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 22, 2026

The central question is whether James joining Steph Curry and Draymond Green would deliver the same legendary results and success as previous acquisitions.

The Warriors were the second-oldest team in the NBA last season, only trailing the Los Angeles Clippers. Durability and health would be two hurdles to consider, especially when the star players in Golden State are in their late 30s.

Jimmy Butler is coming off a torn ACL, and there is no set timetable for his return at this point. Kristaps Porziņģis showed flashes of greatness last year, but could not stay on the court consistently.

On the other side of the coin, the basketball IQ of the Warriors would be through the roof. The years of championship experience would be plentiful. If the roster can stay healthy heading into the postseason, they’d be feared among most opponents in the Western Conference.

Celebrini’s point strengthens the main argument: after intense battles between Cleveland and Golden State, seeing LeBron join the Warriors would feel unprecedented and require an adjustment period.

James and the Warriors’ core of Green, Curry, and coach Steve Kerr would be uniting with one goal in mind: ring No. 5.

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