Hatred, at times, can be an art, and longtime Boston Celtics nemesis LeBron James may have just scripted the perfect final act as the franchise’s greatest villain.
James reportedly signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia on Friday, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, announcing it would be his “final decision” on X. His decision comes three weeks after the Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to the Sixers and sent Boston into a city-wide grieving period, while simultaneously creating an inciting opportunity for James.
The Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Golden State Warriors were among the teams most frequently linked to James in the days leading up to his decision, and each offered a compelling case. Miami has Giannis Antetokounmpo. Cleveland offered the best storybook ending. And Golden State presented a chance that mirrored James’ final hurray with Stephen Curry at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
But those all paled in comparison to the Sixers. In Philadelphia, James can really stick it to Boston. He’s joining forces with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe and Brown — a once-beloved homegrown Celtic, who even in a Sixers uniform, will be incredibly difficult for Boston fans to root against.
That’s pure genius. Maniacal even.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens set the wheels in motion. Regardless of the CBA’s role in moving on from Brown’s contract, Stevens still handed him to Philadelphia after failing to strike a deal for Giannis. Given the pressures already weighing on Stevens after trying to explain the Brown trade as a basketball move, Philadelphia, in a matter of weeks, became the best available catalyst for James. Not only does he get to return to a less demanding Eastern Conference, which he dominated in Miami and Cleveland for many years, but he’s also back on a loaded Sixers roster.
Next season, Philadelphia will be a problem. Even in his 40s with a gray beard, James still has plenty of value left in the tank — both as a player and a leader.
James has already debunked a handful of notions. He didn’t go after the money. He didn’t choose a destination that would allow him to shine the brightest. He took the route of signing with a Sixers team that hasn’t won a championship in 43 years, aware that it won’t be his train to conduct in what’ll be a demanding Philadelphia environment.
Rich Paul, his agent, had months to discuss and consider a plethora of options, so the two thought everything through. They understood that his next contract would be his last, and with six years gone in the wind without a single NBA Finals appearance, the best option would be to chase a title. So what better way to do so than to hand-pick the destination that’ll most hit close to home against his rival Celtics?
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Brown “worked with James directly” to help recruit the 22-time All-Star to Philadelphia.
Boston is still recovering from watching a 3-1 series lead against Philadelphia slip away this past postseason in May. Losing in seven games after blowing a 3-1 cushion for the first time in franchise history, followed by missing out on Giannis and parting ways with Brown, makes James’ arrival the latest blow in what has already been a painful Celtics offseason.
Optimism isn’t running high. The skepticism surrounding Stevens and ownership is well-deserved, but nothing would hit the fanbase like a semitruck more than seeing James and Brown hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy together next summer.
That would quite literally leave the thousands of fans who flood North Station questioning reality, asking themselves, “Is this real life, or am I stuck in some sick, twisted nightmare?”
The Celtics haven’t had to worry about James in any capacity ever since Jayson Tatum put him on a poster during the 2018 conference finals. But that hasn’t stopped Boston from holding itself back through a handful of no-shows under the bright lights, 13 playoff losses over the last four seasons, and an offensive philosophy that’s brought the coaching staff to questioning more than it’s rewarded the organization.
Aside from the Ime Udoka scandal, nothing has challenged Stevens more since stepping into the front office five years ago to replace Danny Ainge than this offseason.
Yet, somehow, someway, James found a way to pour an entire offseason’s worth of salt all over the wound — whether intentional or not.
As a minority owner of the Boston Red Sox, that alone could supersede anything Fenway Sports Group has put Boston through since the Mookie Betts trade.
Sometimes, a hater perfects their craft to the point where your only option is to tip your cap and hope for the best.
