Category: NBA

There is an art to trash talk. Not everyone can do it. And when some players try, they are sent packing by those more adept at gab jab. My favorite all time trash talk story was when Kevin Garnett admitted Tim Duncan was unflappable, poked in a quiet way, and simply ruined opponents by simply dominating the game.

That said, trash talk is a big part of the game. Curiosity begs the question of from whence it derived. For sure, it existed on playgrounds and neighborhoods courts. Japery development is as much of the game as learning how to free throw. But there was a time when basketball was a “gentleman’s” game. In order to play in the NBA each man had to have a college degree and could not have any tattoos. The men who played in the early days couldn’t fathom the verbal assaults that players endure today. Those days are long gone (can you imagine all the talent unavailable if tattoos were outlawed?) and now smack talk is 100% a art of the game. It is a tool used toward an upper hand…until it crosses a line.

So who are the habitual line steppers whose trash talk was as integral to their game as a fast break layup?

As the summer lingers on, Bleacher Report continues to offer interesting content to fill the days between Summer League and Preseason. They’ve added an installment of the “Top 50 Trash-Talkers Ever” and while some names seem like a shoo-in, there are others who should have possibly ranked higher.

Let’s start with the former Spurs on the list:

#16 Dennis Rodman, who spent two seasons with the Spurs, definitely belongs on this list. He spent so much of his career getting into opponent’s heads. Rodman didn;t just trash-talk, he’d push and jockey for position. During plays, between plays, after the whistle blew, Rodman’s entire technique was to push guys to their limit. The fact that he took pleasure in the confrontation infuriated players from both sides even more.

#18 Chris Paul was hated by Spurs fans hated him for so many years…until he signed on for a year. And that’s what you want in a trash-talker – someone who you hate to play against and love to have on your side. Paul, one of the most celebrated point guards of all time spent years poking at opponents.

#23 Chuck Person, aka “The Rifleman,” was with the Spurs from 1994-1998. The sharpshooter had a propensity to aggravate his opponents, with his shot as well as verbally.

#24 Stephen Jackson had two stints with the San Antonio Spurs. The first from 2001-2003 resulting in a championship. The second from 2012-2013 allowing the Spurs to trade away Richard Jefferson. For those unaware of Jackson’s verbal style and tone, check out his digital video podcast All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. His partner, Matt Barnes, is #31 on the list, so you can imagine what their show is like.

#43 Like Captain Jack, Vernon Maxwell also had two tenures with the Spurs. The first from 1988-1990, his first two years in the league, and then again from 1996-1997. He was known for his altercations not only with opposing players, but with fans.

As I was sifting through old video footage one thing was consistent. No matter whose name a put next to the words “trash talk” in search engines, inevitably video results consisted of that player in an altercation with Larry Bird. There should be little surprise that Larry Bird is the #1 trash-talker of all time.

You can see the entire list HERE.

Do you agree? Should anyone be added or amended? Were there any names that surprised you? Personally, I don’t see Kevin Durant as more acerbic than Dennis Rodman. I’ve also heard Luka Doncic trash talk and I am curious if cuts as deep when it requires subtitles. Finally, shouldn’t Dillon Brooks be higher on the list considering his trash talk overshadows most other facets of his skill set?

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Here’s the thing with being a cranky old guy — I have to kvetch before I can get to the good stuff.

Here’s my gripe with the Wizards 2026 summer league: they shut guys down. AJ Dybantsa and Will Riley appeared in only two games. Tre Johnson played in just one!

I know the official line. They don’t have anything to prove. No need to risk injury. Blech and blech.

All these young guys have a lot to prove. Injury risk is minimal, and they’re going to spend the rest of the offseason working out, training skills, and playing tons of pickup games.

Meanwhile, another up-and-coming team with youngsters actually played the youngsters. Third overall pick played all six games (and 177 total minutes) for the Memphis Grizzlies. Second-year wing Cedric Coward got 162 minutes in six games.

Yaxel Lendeborg played 170 minutes for the Golden State Warriors. The Chicago Bulls gave Caleb Wilson four games and 111 minutes.

The Brooklyn Nets gave guys they expect to be in their rotation three or four games for the most part. The Charlotte Hornets went 3-5.

New Cleveland Cavalier Meleek Thomas, who dropped mega points on everyone he faced, played four games.

I’m not saying play guys until they collapse from exhaustion. And to be clear, I don’t know what the “right” way is. My guess is that treating 19- and 20-year-olds like they’re too precious and fragile to even face the risk of summer league competition probably isn’t the best way to engender the tough, competitive ethos the Wizards say they want.

‘Nuff said.

Well…okay, I have one more grumble: allowing 10 fouls per player in summer league. This is dumb. In the NBA, players get six fouls for a 48-minute game. In the NCAA, it’s five fouls for 40 minutes. In FIBA competition, it’s five for 40. In other words, one foul for every eight minutes of action. Then summer league where it’s suddenly double that? Dumb.

The 2026 prize for Prodigious Hacking goes to Aidan Mahaney, who suited up for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He committed six fouls in 15 minutes of action — a rate of more than 19 fouls per 48 minutes (extrapolated, which I’m doing here for entertainment value only).

Washington’s top hacker this summer was Julian Reese at 11.7 fouls per 48 minutes.

Okay, some numbers and thoughts for key Wizards from summer competition (PPA is my all-around production metric — in PPA, 100 is average and higher is better; ortg = offensive rating (points produced per possession used x 100), usg = possession usage percentage; all box score stats are per 48 minutes unless otherwise noted):

• AJ Dybantsa — PPA: 293 | ortg: 103 | usg: 33.6% — In his 51 minutes of action, Dybantsa showed why the Wizards made him the top pick. Good size, great athletic tools, impressive skills. He scored 50 points in those 51 minutes, and averaged the second most free throw attempts per minute in summer league. Worry point: Just 1-11 from three-point range, which led to the slightly subpar overall efficiency (-2.2 relative to the summer league average).
• Will Riley — PPA: 216 | ortg: 136 | usg: 26.1% — Shot well from everywhere (67.3% effective field goal percentage) and made frequent trips to the free throw line (more than 10 attempts per 48 minutes). Worry point: Riley’s high PPA is mostly from unrealistic shooting efficiency. His rebounding was below average, his turnovers elevated (just a 1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio), and he had zero steals or blocks in 57 minutes.
• Tre Johnson — PPA: 87 | ortg: 105 | usg: 32.8% — Got up 20 shots in 28 minutes. Yay, I guess. Worry point: My concern about Johnson in the 2025 draft evaluation was the non-scoring aspects of Johnson’s game. That concern manifested on the floor during the regular season, and it showed up again in summer league (just two rebounds, one assist and a steal in 28 minutes — four turnovers, though).

The rest of the summer league roster will likely be part of the Capital City Go-Go, another team’s G League squad, or perhaps overseas. Some numbers and a thought or two:

• Norris Agbakoko — PPAL 148 — Great name. Played well in summer league, but it’s tough to see much of an NBA future considering he’s already 26-years-old. Maybe the next Anthony Gill?
• Chris Livington — PPA: 145 — I was kinda impressed by Livington, who I think might hsve the size and physical tools to be a backup NBA wing.
• Seth Trimble — PPA: 140 — His summer league looked a lot like his pre-draft eval — impressive defender, good rebounder for a guard, and he shot just 4-15 (26.7%) on threes.
• Reece Beekman — PPA: 118 — Lots of assists and steals, not much scoring.
• Domari Monsanto — PPA: 103
• Julian Reese — PPA: 76 — Rebounded well but struggled to convert inside.
• Kadary Richmond — PPA: 74
• Felix Okpara — PPA: 49 — Not too good. Had trouble finishing, meh board work for a big, didn’t block many shots. The numbers that stood out were bad: 5.5 turnovers and 7.6 fouls per 48.
• John Camden — PPA: 39
• R.J. Nembhard — PPA: -66

Around the League

• Most On-Brand Award goes to Cam Boozer, who led summer league in on/off and scored efficiently, got rebounds, set up teammates, and got lots of steals.
• Brooklyn’s Egor Demin (231 PPA) launched 30 three-point attempts in 76 minutes.
• Darius Acuff Jr. (Sacramento Kings) and Darryn Peterson (Utah Jazz) each had a 10 PPA in summer league. Remember, in PPA 100 is average and higher is better.
• Chicago’s Caleb Wilson (133 PPA) shot 13-31 from three-point range in four games. At North Carolina last season, he shot 7-27 in 24 games. He also did a good job on the boards, and generated steals and blocks. Also, 1-in-4 of his possessions ended in a turnover, and he committed more than six fouls per 48 minutes.
• Favorite summer league name: Boo Buie, who played for Chicago.
• Cleveland’s Meleek Thomas was officially summer league’s leading scorer at 27.3 per game. His per 48 average was 45.1. Dybantsa (who didn’t qualify for leaderboards because Washington removed him from the lineup) averaged 47.3 — No. 1 among all players, even low-minute guys.
• Brayden Burries (256 PPA) had a nice summer for the rebuilding Milwaukee Bucks. He shot reasonably well, and produced well across the board (rebounds, assists, steals) while avoiding turnovers.
• For the Toronto Raptors, YODA favorite Allen Graves (189 PPA) was productive across the board (as he was at Santa Clara). He hit shots from everywhere, rebounded, assisted, generated steals and didn’t commit many turnovers (1.7 ast/tov ratio).

Let me know in the comments if there’s someone in particular you’re curious about.

LeBron James has officially moved on from the Los Angeles Lakers. But what does that mean for Bronny James?

James made his intentions clear on June 30, 2026. Nearly a month later, the four-time MVP announced that he was joining the Philadelphia 76ers.

He thanked Los Angeles and the Lakers for his eight-year tenure in a social media post.

Bronny James, LeBron’s son, remains on the Lakers’ roster.

James just finished his second season with the organization, but there’s been an ongoing conversation in the basketball community about whether he will end up in Philly with his father.

Will Bronny James be traded?

James recently had his contract fully guaranteed by the Lakers for the upcoming season.

James will make $2.3 million this upcoming season, the third year of a four-year deal that he signed in 2024. The Lakers have a team option for the fourth year of James' deal for the 2027-28 season.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that agent Rich Paul made it clear that Bronny and LeBron “are not a package deal” and there was no plan in place to reunite them in Philly.

What is Bronny James’ status with Lakers?

There’s a strong sense of support for Bronny James when it comes to the Lakers’ organization.

James was drafted during the second round by the Lakers with the 55th overall pick in 2024.

He will have an opportunity to build off his second season in the league.

James saw an increase in games played, indicating a stronger sense of belief from coach J.J. Redick.

“He’s gotten significantly better,” Redick said previously about James. “Our staff has confidence in him.”

As a rookie during the 2024-2025 season, he played just 6.7 minutes per game and averaged 2.3 points in 27 games played. James saw the floor in more games this past season, participating in 42 games. He averaged 2.9 points per game and 1.2 assists.

“I really believe Bronny wants to play here (in Los Angeles),” Mychal Thompson, a broadcaster with the team, said on ESPN LA radio. “... I say keep him here and let Bronny branch out on his own. He is a grown man now. … I think he is good enough to play in this league for years to come.”

James played in just two playoff games as a rookie for a combined total of four minutes. He did not average any stats. The second-year player averaged 1.5 points, an assist and 5.3 minutes in eight games played this past postseason.

The USC product did not participate in the NBA’s Summer League as a member of the Lakers earlier this month, but he was seen around the team in Las Vegas.

Lakers depth chart

PG: Luka Doncic, Collin Sexton, Jaden Hardy, Bronny James

SG: Austin Reaves, Cameron Carr, Matisse Thybulle

SF: Quentin Grimes, Jake LaRavia, Ziaire Williams

PF: Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jarred Vanderbilt, Adou Thiero

C: Walker Kessler, Kevon Looney, Sandro Mamukelashvili

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's next for Bronny James after LeBron leaves Lakers for 76ers

When Draymond Green opted out of his $27.7M salary for next season, it was purely to give the Golden State Warriors the financial flexibility to pursue his good buddy LeBron James. Now that James has chosen the Philadelphia 76ers, it appears that the Warriors are simply going to give him the salary he gave up.

The Warriors are expected to re-sign Draymond Green to a nearly $28 million deal, per @joevardon

(https://t.co/SBfhOug1Qw) pic.twitter.com/t4iUM7RScK

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 25, 2026

There were reasons for the Warriors to give Green an extension to lower his salary cap number for this season. The team would clear space under the first luxury tax apron, where the Warriors are hard-capped, and get a chance to use the money they freed up to pay another premium free agent. However, the Warriors’ wish list seems to have consisted of a single player: James.

Despite rumors he might follow James to his new team, Green was never going anywhere. He was willing to opt out and sign for less, likely with some extra protection like a player option in 2027-28, if the team could get James. If not? The team lets him hit the “Whoopsie” button and get the same deal he gave up. Which is completely fair! If Green’s going to play for less money, the team should actually be spending it on something besides Icy-Hot and Metamucil for the veterans.

It also means Green becomes a free agent next summer, just like the majority of the Warriors roster. Only Gui Santos, Moses Moody, Al Horford, and Yaxel Lendeborg are under contract past this season at the moment, with De’Anthony Melton holding a player option and Kristaps Porzingis owed a $3M buyout if the Warriors cut him loose.

Of course, Steph Curry is quite likely to sign another contract extension next month. But the absence of James means the Warriors have a nearly clean slate after this season. Does that justify an offseason where they’ve so far only added rookies? It probably does to management, who had an offseason to-do list that read:

1. Bring back everyone from last year’s 10th place team
2. LeBron (?!?) LOL

One more year (at least!) of Draymond Green. Maybe one more addition — DeMar DeRozan? Mario Hezonia? Bradley Beal? — but otherwise the main roster drama will be sorting out who gets the two-way deals.

For the record, the funniest possible outcome is the Warriors striking out on Super Mario and signing Jonathan Kuminga, with him wearing a University of Michigan sweatshirt at the signing to troll Draymond. And if you’re wondering, Jaden Ivey is much more likely to catch on with the San Francisco Giants bullpen than the Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors still talk about maximizing Stephen Curry’s championship window. Their latest reported priority, however, appears focused on what comes after it closes.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob wants to prove the organization can remain successful once Curry is no longer leading the franchise, according to longtime Bay Area reporter Tim Kawakami.

“What Lacob wants to do, and this might get Warriors fans mad, but he wants to build the next team after Steph Curry,” Kawakami said on The TK Show. “I don’t know how possible that is, but Lacob has a very keen interest in ‘This organization is going to show what it can do with Steph Curry and then after Steph Curry.’ I don’t think it’s going to be as good myself, but that’s what he wants to do.”

That ambition is understandable for an owner responsible for the franchise’s long-term health. It may be harder for fans to accept while Curry remains capable of chasing a fifth championship.

Golden State pursued LeBron James this offseason but lost him to the Philadelphia 76ers. Rather than immediately pivoting toward another major acquisition, the Warriors appear prepared to preserve their draft capital, re-sign Draymond Green and continue balancing an aging core with younger players.

That strategy has produced mixed results before.

Golden State previously attempted a two-timeline plan built around Curry, Green and Klay Thompson while developing James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Wiseman became one of the most costly draft misses in franchise history, while Kuminga was eventually traded without becoming the foundational star the organization envisioned.

The Warriors still control most of their future first-round picks, giving them enough assets to pursue another established player. But holding those selections also protects Lacob’s effort to construct a post-Curry roster.

That creates an uncomfortable question: Is Golden State doing everything possible to win now, or is it already limiting its spending power and trade flexibility to prepare for the future?

Curry is expected to sign a two-year extension that could keep him with the only franchise he has ever played for through the end of his career. He will enter next season at 38, while Green and Jimmy Butler are also nearing the final stages of their careers.

Lacob may eventually get his chance to prove the Warriors can win without Curry.

Warriors fans would probably prefer he wait until Curry is finished before making that the priority.

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Draymond Green created financial flexibility for the Warriors to chase LeBron James. Now that James is headed to Philadelphia, Green must decide whether Golden State still represents his best option.

NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor laid out the dilemma after James agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers.

“Draymond Green has a big decision to make next,” O’Connor wrote on X.

Green can return to Golden State, collect another substantial salary and remain beside Stephen Curry. He would also be rejoining an organization that reportedly explored trading him only five months ago and could revisit that possibility as Curry’s championship window narrows.

The alternative would be testing a market that may offer less money but greater control over where he finishes his career.

O’Connor floated several possibilities, including following James to Philadelphia on a minimum contract or becoming part of a sign-and-trade. Green’s defense, passing and postseason experience would still appeal to contenders despite his age and limited scoring.

The most likely outcome, however, remains a Warriors reunion.

The Athletic reported that Golden State is expected to re-sign Green for nearly $28 million, roughly matching the player option he declined. Green reportedly opted out at the last minute to maximize the Warriors’ flexibility in their pursuit of James and a possible Anthony Davis trade.

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Neither move happened.

Returning would allow Green to continue a partnership with Curry that has produced four championships. He has spent his entire career with Golden State and remains the team’s defensive organizer and emotional center.

But loyalty now comes with uncertainty.

The Warriors have already demonstrated that sentiment will not prevent them from discussing a Green trade if they believe it improves the roster. After missing on James, they may again explore major moves involving Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant or other available stars.

Green is expected to stay, but O’Connor’s question remains relevant: Does he take the money and continue beside Curry, knowing he could be moved later, or choose his next team before the Warriors choose it for him?

The Houston Rockets continue to fill out their roster in anticipation of training camp, as it was announced yesterday that they signed free agent forward Julian Phillips to a non-guranteed deal.

The 6’8” Phillips is still just 22 years old, and he was the 35th pick ouf of Tennessee in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. He played two and a half seasons for the Bulls before he was traded this past year to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who subsequently declined to pick up his option. That brings Phillips to Houston.

He carries career averages of just 3.6 points and 1.5 rebounds for his career, averaging about 11 minutes per night. He is considered an elite athlete, but raw from a skills standpoint. It’s possible a change of scenery and some time with the Rockets, who have a plethora of young talent hoping to keep developing, could change things a little bit for Phillips, who has been an underachiever to this point in his career.

The signing of Phillips brings the Rockets to 19 players on their training camp roster. An NBA team can have up to 21 players for its camp roster, which it must get down to 15 before the start of the season. Here’s how things look right now:

Guaranteed contracts (12)

• Kevin Durant
• Fred VanVleet
• Alperen Şengün
• Amen Thompson
• Jabari Smith Jr.
• Tari Eason
• Reed Sheppard
• Marcus Smart
• Clint Capela
• Steven Adams
• Bogdan Bogdanović
• Bruce Thornton

Non-guaranteed / Partially guaranteed standard contracts (4)

• Jae’Sean Tate (partially guaranteed)
• Isaiah Crawford (non-guaranteed)
• JD Davison (non-guaranteed)
• Julian Phillips (contract details indicate he’s competing for a roster spot rather than holding a fully guaranteed deal).

Two-way contracts (3)

• Quadir Copeland
• Tristen Newton
• David Roddy

Exhibit 10 / Camp deals

• Oscar Tshiebwe (contract designation has not yet been officially announced, but it’s widely expected to be an Exhibit 10).

Things aren’t looking great for Steph Curry. 

The Warriors went all in on LeBron James. But the 41-year-old megastar chose Philadelphia, where he believes he has his best shot at winning his fifth ring. 

That means the Warriors are essentially running back their roster from last season, with the addition of their No. 11 draft pick Yaxel Lendeborg. 

In other words, this is going to be a wasted season for Curry, which is a darned shame. 

The Warriors pulled all the stops to lure James onto their roster. 

Steph Curry made a pitch for him on “Good Morning America.” Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option for the 2026-2027 season to create more money for James. 

The one thing the franchise wasn’t willing to do was mortgage its future for Wizards big man Anthony Davis, whom James reportedly wanted on the team. Davis would’ve cost them Jimmy Butler, along with multiple first-round picks and first-round pick swaps. 

If securing Davis would’ve meant securing James, the Warriors made a mistake by not partially emptying their treasure chest. Yes, he’s often injured. Yes, he’s 33 years old. 

But they should’ve pulled the trigger. They owed it to Curry to not waste a season in which he’s about to turn 39 years old. Curry, Green, James and Davis could’ve given teams fits in the playoffs if they were healthy. 

But it’s unclear whether James would’ve definitely gone to the Warriors if they had gotten Davis. We don’t know the details of those conversations. Or if any guarantees were given. 

What we do know is the Warriors aren’t in a great position now. 

Butler (torn right ACL) and Moses Moody (torn left patellar tendon) will miss the start of the season. 

There aren’t any franchise-bending moves for them left to make. They’re ultimately standing pat. They didn’t make any big trades. 

They’re expected to re-sign Green, who was willing to sacrifice money out of his pocket to try to transform a team that won four championships in eight years from 2015-2022 into winners once again. 

But who else is left for them to go after?

Gary Payton II, a spark plug who’s a good asset but isn’t going to catapult them into the next sphere by any means? Mario Hezonja, who has recently played in Europe? 

Neither of those guys is going to move the needle. 

Last season, the Warriors didn’t even make it out of the play-in tournament. 

It’s hard to expect much will change for them this time around, especially in the very crowded Western Conference with the Thunder and Spurs vying to be atop the league. 

The Warriors will make some moves around the margins. 

But their only hope for a competitive season is if Butler returns quickly and has the type of impact he did when he joined the team in February 2025, and they went 23-7 the remainder of the season. (There wasn’t proof in concept last season. Before Butler suffered the injury in January, the Warriors were inconsistent at best.)

They need to hope Kristaps Porzingis can stay healthy. After acquiring him last February, he only played 15 games because of various health reasons. 

They need to hope Lendeborg is able to make an immediate impact as a jack of all trades. He impressed during the Las Vegas Summer League by averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists while winning the MVP Award, but is the 23-year-old ready to be a difference-maker on a veteran team? 

All of those things need to perfectly coalesce or else the greatest shooter of all time and a Hall of Fame defender are going to languish amid basketball mediocrity yet again. 

It’s too bad James didn’t choose the Warriors. They would’ve been the most fun show in town. 

It was thrilling to imagine James and Curry sharing a court after their gold medal-winning Olympic run together, in which James was named MVP and Curry played hero in the final games. 

But alas, that was nothing but a tease. A figment of our imagination. An unrealized fantasy. 

Curry is going to get no such help in the twilight of his career. 

Once again, he’s playing against a stacked deck. The Warriors dropped the ball. They didn’t give their franchise hero a chance to soar in his final act. 

It’s too bad. 

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Before making the incredibly sensible and reasonable trade to send Luka Dončić to the Lakers, the Mavs have pieced together a formidable roster that made the Finals.

For LA, there would be sound rationale, then, to potentially pick off some of the players that had success in Dallas with Luka and bring them to California. However, the front office looks to be set on building things out their own way.

Reports about a hesitancy to bring in PJ Washington have already existed and, during a recent show on Bleacher Report, Jake Fischer reiterated the Lakers’ lack of interest in both Washington as well as center Daniel Gafford.

“I know Lakers fans want to keep drawing a line to a trade with Dallas for either PJ Washington or Gafford because of their success with Luka Dončić. I really don’t have any inclination that the Lakers have had trade talks about either of those guys of real consequence this offseason.”

However you feel about Washington’s fit on the Lakers, the team clearly feels his contract, which runs through the 2029-30 season, is not worth trading for. On paper, he fills a need for the team, but that deal is guaranteed longer than anyone currently on the Lakers’ roster, including Luka, Austin Reaves or Walker Kessler.

Gafford, meanwhile, is a player who made more sense prior to the team acquiring Kessler. Gafford’s injury woes in recent seasons limit how much he can be counted upon. He also has a contract guaranteed through 2028-29 and is set to make over $18 million per season in the final two years of the deal.

The Lakers have more pressing issues, as well, than the center position. While the center depth isn’t great, trading the limited assets they have for Gafford might not make the most sense.

For now, the Lakers aren’t revisiting a trade with Dallas. But if the hole remains at the forward position or the team’s depth at center becomes an issue, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them linked to the Mavericks down the road again.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

In 2013, the Sixers brought on Sam Hinkie as general manager. The Daryl Morey protege took a sledgehammer to the roster, hoping to pull the franchise out of NBA purgatory and into perpetual relevancy.

You could liken the next decade-plus to getting on a rollercoaster that never stops and is on fire. Sure, there have been thrilling moments, but sometimes, you just really wanted to get off the ride.

Now, 13 years later, LeBron James is a Philadelphia 76er. You did it, Sixers fans. You trusted the process. It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was downright tortuous at times, but you’re here. Like Andy Dufresne, you crawled through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side.

It feels like every so often I write a column and wind up rehashing everything you went through. Nearly securing the worst single-season record in NBA history — a record held by this very organization. Having a nepobaby executive foisted upon you only for him to be embroiled in a Twitter scandal which led to his ouster. The draft pick injuries, including Zhaire Smith nearly dying from a sesame seed allergy. And if I had a nickel for every time the Sixers took a guy No. 1 overall who couldn’t shoot … well, I’d have two nickels, but super weird that it happened twice!

Even as the franchise took steps forward, it felt like a step back was coming.

The best example is making blockbuster trades for Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, then choosing Harris over Butler in free agency (or pissing off Butler enough to make him not want to re-sign, whatever you want to believe). Nearly trading for James Harden, Ben Simmons’ brutal playoff stretches — culminating in The Pass — then actually trading for Harden, being minutes away from the Eastern Conference Finals, choking that away, and then Harden calling Morey a liar. That led to the cap space plan … which did lead to signing Paul George, which led to trading for Jaylen Brown, which led to signing LeBron James.

All those Joel Embiid injuries and procedures. All the roster, coaching and front office upheaval has brought you here.

Of course, there are no guarantees. On paper, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Brown, James and Embiid looks like one of the most talented starting fives the sport has ever seen. That doesn’t mean the Sixers get to skip steps along the way. It’s an overabundance of talent, which beats the hell out of the alternative. It’s fair to wonder how these stars coalesce — but it’s equally fair to wonder who the hell is going to stop them?

Let the folks in Cleveland and Miami consume the sourest of grapes. Allow the national folks to twist themselves into a Philly soft pretzel over LeBron’s decision. It truly does not matter.

Today is not the day for the detractors and naysayers. They’ve had their fun for the last decade or so. It’s your time, Sixers fans.

Talk your shit, Philly. Puff your chests out. Throw some chalk up in the air. Order yourself a LeBron jersey (if you can find one). Dream big.

Lord knows you’ve earned it.

Rocket Arena reserved one of its loudest roars of the year for a late January 30-point blowout.

That cheer wasn’t for anything that happened on the floor; it was instead for the hometown hero, who was playing possibly the last game on the court he had reigned on for over a decade.

LeBron James doesn’t break composure often, but this was different. The ovation and genuine love moved him to tears.

This stood in stark contrast to everything happening in Los Angeles. Instead of being welcomed as a hero, he was celebrated as merely a good basketball player who had his best achievements come in different uniforms.

Based on what was reported, the love he got from Cavs fans was what James really craved. And if so, this latest move is just a repeat of the mistake that had him feeling like this in the first place.

After a month of reiterating that the final chapter of his career would be about happiness and his family, LeBron chose to shamelessly ring chase with the Philadelphia 76ers — a city he has no ties to and is far from a sure thing to win a championship.

On its face, this move is surprising if James is looking for appreciation and praise.

Choosing the Cleveland Cavaliers would’ve provided the perfect storybook ending for the local kid who grew up to become the best basketball player of all-time. There would’ve been 82 more opportunities for moments like that one in January to happen. All the while, he would’ve still had a shot at competing for a championship. After all, the Cavs are just two months removed from playing in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Yet, this all operates under the assumption that James and those around him actually understood what made that connection possible in the first place. Maybe they don’t. After all, this is someone who’s spent their whole career trying to craft the greatest narrative, but has ended up weaving a convoluted tale about someone who bounces from city-to-city based on who can provide the quickest short-term gain.

So from that perspective, this move shouldn’t have been that surprising.

America’s capitalist society has long confused money and attention for cultural relevance and artistry. Commercial success is the standard movies, shows, books, and music are judged. Quality and whether there’s an actual message being conveyed through it don’t matter. This is how we find ourselves in the endless cycle of franchise reboots and empty live-action remakes of things we once loved, but have now lost the core of what made them special.

Hollywood isn’t the only one chasing the ghost of once great things.

Winning is the currency of basketball. LeBron has spent his whole career in Michael Jordan’s shadow. That was inevitable with him entering the league a year after Jordan retired. Why he’s still there now, and probably always will be in the court of public opinion, isn’t because of anything he’s done on the basketball court.

Another championship, or even two, wouldn’t change that because it was never about the rings.

People get invested in stories because they want to feel something. Sports, at their core, are just an ongoing narrative that you hope will invest you for the time you put in. Watching players and teams meet, fall, and maybe one day overcome the obstacles in their way is where the entire joy comes from. And it’s also where we get our idea of what makes someone truly great from.

This part is what James and those around him haven’t understood and probably never will. There’s more to this than just winning at all costs.

Jordan and Kobe Bryant’s greatness came from their play, but also the continuity of their stories. The bond between player, team, and city went through peaks and valleys, but it persisted for decades. The endurance of that marriage made their triumphs more meaningful for everyone and easier to appreciate for outside observers.

LeBron and the athletes who followed his lead threw that playbook out the window. Instead of enduring the natural ups and downs of an organization, they took control of their own narratives.

There are benefits to that. James probably doesn’t win consecutive championships in 2012 and 2013 if he doesn’t join the Miami Heat. Kevin Durant isn’t a back-to-back Finals MVP if he doesn’t go to the Golden State Warriors.

Those choices are completely understandable and what I would do if in that position. Taking ownership of your situation instead of leaving it up to people who may not have your best interests in mind makes sense, but that doesn’t mean the general public has to like it. Every choice, even logical ones, has drawbacks.

Everything LeBron has done throughout his career has been calculated. He’s constantly thought one or two steps ahead of everyone else to put himself and his brand in the best position to succeed. That includes surrounding himself with the best teammates and situations on and off the court to lead to winning. But again, even calculated moves have consequences.

If success is just about winning and making money, then there’s no viable criticism for anything LeBron has done, including this move. After all, LeBron’s Sixers jersey has already sold out. His brand will grow in a large coastal market, which will certainly open up new business ventures. On top of that, the Sixers should do plenty of winning on the court. However, winning alone doesn’t buy adoration. If it could, Durant wouldn’t feel the need to continue making burner accounts to defend his honor.

James found this out during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.

What was supposed to be an expansion of his kingdom ended up being an eight-year footnote. He won a championship, put his name on top of the scoring list, and shared the court with his son. All of those things should’ve been celebrated as once-in-a-generation achievements, but they weren’t. He — predictably — didn’t get the treatment from the fans or team personnel that Kobe did at the end of his two decades spent in one uniform. Not even close, which reportedly influenced him to leave.

James now seems destined to repeat that mistake in another city that has no connection to him. If the Sixers win, the credit will go to Philadelphia’s guys, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. And if they lose, that will fall on LeBron.

By making this entirely about winning one more ring, LeBron has validated the narrative that he’s still chasing Jordan because of the title count. It’s an admission that he isn’t viewed as the greatest, despite being better at basketball than anyone else who’s ever lived.

LeBron doesn’t owe anyone anything. He especially doesn’t owe anything to Northeast Ohio after all he’s done for the community. But viewing things through that prism misses the entire point of why sports matter.

In an idealistic world, you’d like to think the bond between an athlete and a city is what drives decisions. I’m not naive enough to think that it actually does — but there are exceptions to that rule. LeBron and Cleveland seemed to be one in that January moment, and when he yelled “Cleveland, this is for you!” with tears in his eyes after delivering the city’s first championship in over half a century.

This latest decision, and whatever comes down the line, don’t change what happened in the past. Relationships aren’t static. They’re always evolving.

The bond between Cleveland and LeBron will endure past this. He will still return as a hero at some point. Yet, it does complicate things further than they already were.

How James’s last game in Cleveland will look is anyone’s guess. It could come in an inconsequential regular-season game. Maybe this whole summer is swept under the rug, as we do with Jordan’s Wizards jersey. Or, it could come in one of the last games of the conference finals with James trying to end the season in the one place he still calls home. That situation wouldn’t be swept under the rug as quickly.

What we can say with certainty is that moment on that cold January night in Cleveland won’t be replicated again there. At least, not while James is still wearing a jersey. It probably won’t happen at his new home court in Philadelphia either, based on how we’ve seen this story play out in the past. That is the true cost of this last-ditch attempt at one more championship.