Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas talks about LeBron James move to the 76ers. @NoChillGilZero/X
Whether or not Savannah agreed with the move, James ultimately decided to head back East and possibly finish his career in the City of Brotherly Love.
He posted on X after the deal was reported that he made the decision for himself.
“This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for a family,” he wrote. “What am I really playing for at this point?
“I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning.”
LeBron also mentioned that he was seriously considering retirement after the 2025-26 season, but spent the last few weeks realizing how much he still loves the game of basketball.
Arenas continued his video with a joke about the “little a– statues” that they give players in Philadelphia.
Gilbert Arenas reaction to LeBron James going to the Sixers:
“This shit don’t look right, I’m sorry who is this, I know Savannah didn’t approve this.. nah man congrats but I’m booing” pic.twitter.com/zkiCBC835N
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) July 24, 2026
Referring to the “Legends Walk” outside the Sixers practice facility in New Jersey, he said Lebron must not know about it.
The walk features legendary players such as Julius Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, Charles Barkley and Maurice Cheeks, but are unanimously on the smaller side.
Allen Iverson received the most recent statue in 2024, which Arenas poked fun at in the video.
Lebron James, left, and Savannah James attend the Time100 Sports List at Pier Sixty Chelsea Piers. AP Photo/Evan Agostini
“Congratulations, but I’m booing,” Arenas concluded.
Part of Arenas’ reaction could be his confidence in a different outcome.
At Fanatics Fest on Sunday, the former Wizard and Warriors player said he had talked to Giannis Antetokounmpo and he was confident LeBron was joining the Heat.
Arenas and James’ relationship is limited to the times they scrimmaged together for Team USA.
The two did face off multiple times during their careers, most notably in the 2006 playoff series between the Cavaliers and Wizards.
Cleveland won the series 4-2 thanks to 32 points from James in Game 6.
Charles Barkley reacts to the massive news of LeBron James joining the Philadelphia 76ers. Barkley breaks down how LeBron will fit alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the implications for the Eastern Conference, and why the new Sixers-Celtics rivalry is going to be epic.
Watch the full episode below:
00:00 – Charles Barkley 00:26 – Charles Barkley’s Initial Reaction to LeBron in Philly 01:57 – Tough Eastern Conference 03:18 – Celtics Rivalry 04:12 – What This Means for Philadelphia Sports 06:29 – Celtics Mistake Trading Jaylen Brown? 07:18 – Are the Sixers the Team to Beat in the East? 08:50 – Barkley’s Hilarious Complaint About Missing Golf
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder Getty Images
“I’m like Coach Cal,” Maxey wrote on the video.
Honestly, the comparison works. Calipari became famous for convincing elite players to join his programs.
Tyrese Maxey celebrated LeBron James’ 76ers signing with a wild workout reaction after helping recruit the NBA legend to Philadelphia. Tyrese Maxey/Instagram
Maxey does not have a recruiting staff or a collection of national championship banners, but he reportedly played a major role in convincing the 41-year-old James to choose Philadelphia.
The two are represented by Klutch Sports, and Maxey remained in contact with James throughout his long free-agency process. His efforts helped the Sixers beat out Cleveland, Miami, Golden State and Minnesota for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
No wonder Maxey was screaming.
Philadelphia can now roll out a starting lineup featuring Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, James and Joel Embiid. That group brings scoring, passing, athleticism and plenty of playoff experience, putting the Sixers firmly in the NBA title conversation.
Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics NBAE via Getty Images
James and Maxey could be especially dangerous in transition.
After deciding to return for his unprecedented 24th NBA season, he needed to choose where he would play.
He mulled over his options for 24 days.
Or 576 hours.
Or 34,560 minutes.
LeBron James decided the 76ers give him the best chance of winning another championship. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Various factors tugged at his heartstrings for what would be the swan song for one of the greatest athletes of all time.
There was the family factor. His wife, Savannah, 11-year-old daughter, Zhuri, and son, Bronny, are in Los Angeles.
There was the happiness factor. Golf had become his new passion.
There was the legacy factor. Returning to Cleveland, where he was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in 2003, would be the perfect storybook ending.
Ultimately, James didn’t prioritize any of those things.
The player who devoted his life to greatness, showing up to arenas five hours before games and three hours before practices and missing countless family celebrations, decided to chase what has motivated him for two decades.
He doesn’t have history in Philadelphia, as he does with Cleveland and Miami, where he won three of his four championships. He doesn’t have deep ties to the players on the roster, as he does with Draymond Green and Steph Curry in Golden State.
But he believes the 76ers give him something that has been his life force since he entered the NBA as an 18-year-old with the most pressure on his shoulders of any prospect ever.
The 76ers haven’t won an NBA championship since 1983, but James hopes to change that. Getty Images
A chance to be on the mountaintop again.
So, James will pursue his fifth ring with a new team in a sports-obsessed city. This is a gamble. This is championship or bust. He’s putting it all on the line.
James could’ve released the pressure valve by picking Cleveland or Miami, where he has nothing left to prove.
He could’ve prioritized fun by choosing Golden State, where an old-men-versus-the-league narrative would’ve captivated fans regardless of wins or losses.
Instead, James turned up the pressure to the highest level for his final act.
He entered the league under those conditions. There’s something poetic about him exiting under them, too.
“This is my last decision,” James wrote on X on Friday. “I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”
James is joining a roster headlined by Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey. The 76ers needed a power forward. They got the best free agent on the market in James, a 41-year-old who’s arguably still a top-10 player even though he’s the oldest guy in the league.
The basketball fit is beautiful. James is one of the best playmakers we’ve ever seen. He’ll free up Maxey and Brown to score. If Embiid stays healthy, this team could challenge the reigning champion Knicks.
James won a gold medal alongside Embiid at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. He questioned why Brown wasn’t getting more consideration for the MVP Award last season, even though Brown was caught on camera at a 2024 Las Vegas Summer League game saying, “I don’t think Bronny is a pro.” He has publicly touted Maxey, who’s also represented by Klutch Sports Group.
Now they’re joining forces to deliver a championship to Philadelphia, which hasn’t won a title since 1983 when the franchise was led by Julius Erving and Moses Malone.
James’ decision likely was influenced by the Knicks’ title run during the 2025-26 season. 2026 Richard Rodriguez
You can’t help but think James’ decision was influenced by the Knicks’ title run. He watched Jalen Brunson lead a famished fan base to their first championship in 53 years. He saw the joy. The passion. The emotions.
He wanted to recreate that for himself.
Ultimately, he decided it’s all for naught if winning isn’t the end goal. So, he’s going somewhere cold where he can’t play golf year-round. Somewhere far from his family. Somewhere he has no history.
James genuinely contemplated retirement after an eight-season stint with the Lakers.
But the guy who has been the NBA’s sun for two decades still deeply felt the gravitational pull that has been his oxygen for over 20 years.
So he decided to return for a final act.
He won a championship in Miami in his second season with the team. When he returned to Cleveland, it took him two seasons to lead the franchise to its only title. And after going to the Lakers, he led them to a title in his second season.
He’s giving himself the same timeline in Philadelphia.
After rumors swirled for three weeks about his priorities, in retrospect it makes sense that only one mattered.
And he’s putting everything on the line to achieve it.
He wants to hear the crowd roar. He wants to see a deluge of confetti fall from the rafters. He wants to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy once again.
The greatest is going for greatness.
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The Knicks’ reign in the Eastern Conference may be over, Stephen A. Smith says.
On ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith reacted to LeBron James signing with Philadelphia , warning that the 76ers are now “right in with New York as the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference.”
Smith credited Sixers president of sports Bob Myers for crafting a team that can compete with anyone, including the defending champion Knicks that swept Philadelphia in the second round of the playoffs this season.
Stephan A. Smith talks about the 76ers LeBron James signing on “First Take.” @awfulannouncing/X
“Now you have Jaylen Brown, who’s big time, with Tyrese Maxey, who’s big time, with VJ Edgecombe, who signed as a rookie and has tremendous potential…” Smith said. “If Joel Embiid is 50%, I mean, if he can give you anything during the playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers could win the championship.”
Myers has plenty of experience building championship teams, spending 2012-23 as the Warriors’ general managerand winning four NBA championships.
Smith explained that while he’s impressed with executives’ ability to get Lebron, he is equally surprised.
The sports personality didn’t think James would join a team in the East other than Cleveland.
Smith isn’t the only one surprised, though. The prediction market Kalshi had the Sixers at just an eight percent chance of claiming the 41-year-old entering Friday.
James also took a larger paycut than many were expected to fit the Philadelphia roster.
LeBron James made multiple high-profile appearances at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026. BACKGRID
The Akron, Ohio, native signed a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option marking a nearly $50 million pay cut per year from his $52 million salary with the Lakers.
James was always expected to take a paycut, with widely reported suitors such as Cleveland, Miami, Golden State limited to veteran-minimum or exception-level offers, yet the figure is still surprising.
Even with the slim salary, ESPN cap expert Bobby Marks says the Sixers are around $572,000 above the first apron after the signing.
Myers and co. will have to cut someone or make a trade before the season in order to create the cap room James needs.
For now, though, Philadelphia fans can be satisfied looking at a starting lineup of Maxey, Edgecombe, Embiid, Brown and James and dream of beating the Knicks in 2027.
Now that LeBron James has announced stunned the NBA with his decision to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers and close his eight-year chapter with the Los Angeles Lakers, a new wave of speculation has erupted: Will Bronny James join his father in Philadelphia?
The Lakers have made it clear that they have no intention of trading Bronny James. Meanwhile, the 76ers’ roster features a deep backcourt, leaving little immediate need or space to acquire another guard.
Also, Rich Paul, the agent for both players, told ESPN that "they are not a package deal" and there's no plan to request that Bronny join LeBron in Philadelphia.
The network also said Bronny recently picked up his player option with the Lakers.
Bronny appeared in 27 regular-season games for the Lakers during the 2024-25 season and 42 regular-season games and eight playoff games last year, often splitting his time with the South Bay Lakers, the franchise’s G League affiliate.
Bronny averaged 2.9 points, 0.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game last season with the Lakers.
He joins forces with the newly-acquired Jaylen Brown, and familiar postseason foes of the Knicks, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
With this move, some oddsmakers have Philly neck-and-neck or even ahead of New York to take the East in 2026-27. Are the 76ers now a true threat to the reigning champions?
You look over their roster on paper and it reads like a 12-year-old’s NBA 2K franchise jumped the shark. Four All-Star level guys who peak a tier higher when healthy, flanked by a rising prospect in V.J. Edgecombe and some solid depth pieces in Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade, is nothing to scoff at.
Their deep bench has some lottery tickets as well, with Dominick Barlow, rookie Labaron Philon Jr., and former Knick Ariel Hukporti. Barring a bad string of injuries, they should be able to piece together a reliable eight-to-nine man group for the postseason. Brown and James bring real championship mettle. Their top four are high-IQ players who can all create for themselves and others, and if they’re able to sacrifice their individual scoring they won’t be an easy group to guard.
If Maxey and Brown are the primary creators, they have roll and pop opportunities for days with James and Embiid. James can also be the screen man in any combination and facilitate himself in an offense that can pressure the paint and theoretically spread the floor five-out.
There’s enough production here to have different options carry them through the regular season, then come the postseason they can be deadly if everybody is bought in. Embiid and James will have to revert back to their defense from a few years ago come that time, but if they can Philly has no ceiling.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket against New York Knicks guards Jalen Brunson (11) and Landry Shamet (44) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
On the flip side, they still have plenty of questions.
It will take a lot of sacrifice and experimentation to get the offensive cohesion right, especially among four guys who have stakes in being lead initiators.
Not only will the hierarchy be blurry to start, but Brown, James, and Embiid will have to put up career shooting years to punish defenses for packing the paint. All three like to operate out of the mid-post, but their biggest test will come on the other end.
Embiid hasn’t been an elite defensive anchor in years, James has backtracked on that end, and the guards plus Brown don’t make up much ground there. The Sixers can skate by during the regular season but would need to stack all-out performances together in the playoffs to advance far.
The biggest time bomb on the roster is their health, especially Embiid’s and James'. The former hasn’t played 40 ore more games in three seasons, with two young backups, while the latter is fighting his own battles now playing professionally for over 20 consecutive years.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are coming off one of the most dominant postseason runs in recent NBA history, which included sweeping a slightly dissimilar Sixers team. Sure, they’ve made additions, but four more wins of them?
There will likely need to be some trial-and-error before we get to truly judge this team’s chances. As we’ve seen from the 2013 Lakers, the James Harden-Kawhi Leonard-Paul George Clippers, the 2021 Nets, and 2024 Suns, a super-team lacking cohesion or injury luck is as susceptible to complete failure than to legitimate contention.
The Knicks have proven themselves to be championship caliber and shouldn’t be written off to underdog status until proven otherwise. But Philadelphia is coming for the throne, and won’t be as easy to beat this time.
The Sixers’ full-strength starters will surely be Tyrese Maxey, VJ, Edgecombe, Brown, James and Joel Embiid. That’s a powerful unit on paper. And it doesn’t hurt that, at least to open games, it appears obvious which position everyone should play.
James’ passing remains a special skill at 41 years old. According to Cleaning the Glass, his 1.16 assist-to-usage ratio last season was first among NBA forwards. The Sixers will welcome James’ abilities to feed shooters and cutters, manipulate defenses and create easy points for whoever happens to be open. None of the Sixers’ other stars could be described as a fantastic passer. In prior years, opponents have recognized that blitzing Maxey and double teaming Embiid on post-ups is often worthwhile. James is extraordinarily equipped to punish such schemes.
Health permitting — always a notable caveat with the Sixers — the team seems capable of much-improved offensive efficiency. On top of the passing excellence, James is nothing close to a non-scorer these days. He tallied 20.9 points per game last season, kept drawing a good number of free throws (5.3 per contest), and sported a strong 59.4 true shooting percentage. With Brown also on board, the Sixers look destined to be among the NBA’s elites at drawing free throws, scoring in isolation, and scoring in general. Another season of middling play on both sides of the ball would be surprising.
As was the case with the Brown deal, star insurance matters in Philadelphia. Embiid has an optimistic outlook on his health, but the 32-year-old big man’s played under 40 games in three consecutive seasons. Maxey averaged at least 37.5 minutes in all of those years. As Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey noted on draft night, the Sixers wouldn’t mind lightening Maxey’s load a tad. James shouldn’t be relied upon to log massive minutes, but it’s fair enough to broadly consider another star a positive. In the event that Embiid, Maxey or Brown are sidelined, James should be quite comfortable assuming a larger role.
The impact won’t be tangible, but James’ basketball wisdom will be a big deal for the Sixers’ youngsters. VJ Edgecombe had no hesitation about asking anyone in the building questions from the start of his rookie season. James should have many useful answers.
“He had a hell of a rookie season, man,” Maxey said of Edgecombe at his May exit interview. “Not just a rookie season, a hell of a season. A lot of guys would wish they had a season like him. So the sky is the limit. The future’s bright. … You don’t have to push his buttons much. He works too hard and he wants it too much.”
While James is no longer the sort of defender who should be asked to expend energy guarding stars, he’ll enhance the Sixers’ overall versatility. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse’s options should expand with James’ unique blend of size and skill. Perhaps James can serve as a pure point guard on occasion when Maxey sits. In Embiid-less stints, it might be a decent idea to play the 6-foot-9, 250-pound James at center here and there.
Valid questions about Sixers with James
James will turn 42 years old on Dec. 30. He’s the ultimate outlier, but you never know when his basketball aging process might become a bit more normal. We’ll see whether he can keep avoiding the typical trajectory of fading athleticism and nagging injuries.
The Sixers’ bench is not full of proven players. Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons are the only second-unit Sixers who have truly established themselves as full-time NBA rotation players for multiple years. Everyone else is 24 years old or younger.
James had a subpar outside shooting season last year, going 31.7 percent from three-point range on 4.1 attempts per game. Brown made 34.7 percent of his threes. Both players will fire open looks and can get hot. Still, the Sixers may very well stay below average in the long-distance department. They ranked 23rd last year in three-point frequency and 23rd in three-point percentage.
What’s the Sixers’ path to defensive success? As usual, we imagine they’ll plan to mainly play drop pick-and-roll coverage with Embiid and be more of a scrambling, turnover-forcing team when he’s out. Maxey’s enjoyed the freedom to hunt for steals under Nurse and nabbed a career-best 1.9 per game last year (fifth in the league). Edgecombe loves to defend and has stellar athletic tools. James should boost the Sixers’ team size, defensive reboundingand intelligence. Wade’s shown he can handle high-level scorers. All of that said, the Sixers are not a team stuffed with stoppers and they’ll have to tinker throughout the season.
Along with the game-to-game details, Nurse will need to help his team figure out an optimal pace and rhythm. (For what it’s worth, he’s a musically inclined coach and we imagine he’ll embrace that challenge.) Embiid is at his best in half-court offense and regularly trails the play in transition. Meanwhile, Maxey was second, James third and Brown fourth in the NBA last season in transition points per game. Edgecombe is also a dangerous, explosive player in the open floor.
The Sixers possess immense transition talent and no shortage of players who can nail tough shots in the half court. Everything won’t mesh perfectly overnight, though.
The NBA championship odds picture changed dramatically after it was reported Friday that LeBron James will sign a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Key Takeaways
The 76ers went from +2,000 to +900 to win the NBA title at DraftKings.
Polymarket users believed there was a 7% chance that James would sign with the 76ers.
DraftKings has a couple of player-specific betting options.
The four-time champion, 41, will represent the fourth franchise of his NBA career when the 2026-27 season tips off in October.
James was not expected to sign with the 76ers, according to prediction market prices. Thursday’s market data from Polymarket showed the Miami Heat led all suitors with a 44% chance of winning James’ free-agency race for a second time. The Cleveland Cavaliers, James’ hometown club, were second with a 25% chance.
The Golden State Warriors, previously the strong favorites, had a 16% chance. The 76ers followed those three teams with a 7% chance.
Kalshi users saw the race similarly. Their probabilities included Miami (46%), Cleveland (28%), Golden State (16%), and Philadelphia (9%). The two platforms registered $269.2 million in combined trading volume.
Both operators also showed a sharp increase in the 76ers’ chances of winning the upcoming NBA Finals. Their 14% chance is more than double the 6% chance they had Thursday and trails only the Oklahoma City Thunder (24%) and San Antonio Spurs (19%).
Kalshi’s prediction markets have the Sixers at 12%, behind the Thunder (21%) and Spurs (20%). Both platforms have Philly third and ahead of the defending champion New York Knicks, the 2023-24 champion Boston Celtics, and other top contenders.
DraftKings Sportsbook had the Sixers at +2,000 in NBA championship odds Friday morning before reports broke that James was headed to the City of Brotherly Love. That put them fifth, behind the Spurs, Thunder, Knicks, and Celtics.
The announcement almost immediately shortened Philly’s title odds to +900, tied for third on the board. Current title odds for the top contenders are as follows:
San Antonio Spurs (+270)
Oklahoma City Thunder (+270)
Philadelphia 76ers (+900)
New York Knicks (+900)
Boston Celtics (+1,300)
Cleveland Cavaliers (+2,500)
Toronto Raptors (+2,500)
Minnesota Timberwolves (+2,500)
Detroit Pistons (+2,500)
Denver Nuggets (+2,500)
Miami Heat (+3,000)
Los Angeles Lakers (+3,500)
The Sixers also have the fourth-best odds (+800) of winning at least 60 games, trailing the Thunder (-165), Spurs (-120), and Knicks (+475).
Focusing on the Eastern Conference, only the Knicks (+330) have a better chance of reaching the Finals than the Sixers (+350). The Celtics (+550), Pistons (+850), and Raptors (+900) are in close contention.
DraftKings also has a couple of player-specific betting options involving James. He is -160 (61.5% implied chance) to average 18-plus points and +200 (33.3% chance) to average at least 20.
LeBron’s last ride?
The 76ers have one of the best starting fives in basketball. Joel Embiid is a former league MVP, Jaylen Brown won the Conference Finals and Finals MVP in 2024, Tyrese Maxey averaged 28.3 points last year, VJ Edgecombe produced an impressive rookie campaign and shone in the playoffs, and James is near unanimously recognized a top-two player in NBA history.
James posted a series of messages on X on Friday morning explaining his decision to return for a 24th season after believing he was ready to retire.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time,” he wrote.
I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn't ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and deicide if I still love
He chose chasing that title over the comfort of playing on very good teams in cities he has been in before — Miami and Cleveland — or teaming up with Stephen Curry in a nostalgia play in the Bay Area. While Philadelphia was always mentioned in discussions and speculation around the league, they probably were fourth on the list of teams executives expected. Yet here we are.
What has been the reaction around the NBA? Well, needless to say, LeBron's new teammates are pumped.
Safe to say Tyrese Maxey is hype to be playing with Bron
And, of course, the politicians were quick to capitalize.
LEBRON IS COMING TO PHILLY.
By the power vested in me as the Governor of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a die-hard Sixers fan... I hereby proclaim today to be LEBRON JAMES DAY.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: The sneakers worn by John Poulakidas #1 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 13, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James signed a two-year deal worth $8 million with the Philadelphia 76ers sending the world into a frenzy. The move shocked the NBA community as Golden State, Miami, and Cleveland were the top three favorites to land LeBron.
Over at DraftKings, you can now bet on whether or not LeBron will average 18-plus points per game at -160 odds or 20-plus points per game at +200 in his first season with the 76ers. As you can see, there are also options of Kawhi Leonard after joining Toronto, LaMelo Ball following his trade to Minnesota, and head-to-head options between Tyler Herro and Giannis Antetokounmpo, but let's focus on The King.
LeBron at age 41, tied his career-low 20.9 points per game that spanned all the way back to his rookie season in 2003-04. James' 15.3 field goal attempts per game was 2.6 fewer than his previous career-low and the worst three-point percentage (31.7%) since 2007-08. I am not breaking any barriers by saying James will score the fewest amount of points in his career this season, but it's not because of a lack of self-talent, but because of the amount of talent around him.
Tyrese Maxey is coming off a career-high 28.3 points per game on 21.4 field goal attempts per game. Maxey has taken 20-plus shots per game in three straight seasons. Being the point guard and the top two scoring option during that time period, Maxey can only sacrifice so much.
Jaylen Brown will surely shoot the rock more than Paul George's 13.9 field goal attempts per game with the 76ers last season. We know Brown is looking to rewrite his narrative and like Maxey, Brown is coming off the best scoring season of his career at 28.7 points per game.
Joel Embiid averaged over 27 combined free throws and field goal attempts last season to acrrue 26.9 points per game. Embiid's health is obviously called into question every season, so adding a 41-year-old LeBron allows both James and Embiid to switch on and off for rest nights.
Then you have the trio of hungry youngsters — VJ Edgecombe, Labaron Philon Jr., and Anfernee Simons. Edgecombe is living up to the hype of being the No. 3 overall pick last year. Edgecombe busted onto the scene with 34 points in his debut and finished the season with 16.0 points per game on 43.8% and 13.7 shot attempts.
Philadelphia drafted Philon Jr., who is a great mimic off the bench in terms of play style and what Maxey provided in his early career. Simons has been shipped around recently, but that doesn't take away from the fact he's not shy to shoot. Simons has averaged double-digit shot attempts in five-straight seasons and 8.5 triples during his final season in Portland.
It's safe to say, LeBron picked a pretty solid play to be for two years. He won't need to score 20 points per game anymore and at 41-years-old, it likely isn't in the best interest of his longevity to continue. LeBron had a 26.2% usage rate last season, which ranked 33rd among players who started at least 50 games.
Scoring 18 points per game is certainly within reach for James, but at -160 odds, it's something I would pass on. Personally, I am betting the Under on anyone offering LeBron season-long props on his point total. No shade to The King. He just has to many scoring soldiers at his disposal in Philly.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through sports fans across the world, LeBron James has officially signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. But one of the more fascinating parts of this morning’s blockbuster news wasn’t just where LeBron is playing for his 24th season, it was how he did it.
Bypassing traditional media outlets, insiders, and press conferences, James used his exclusive trading card partner, Topps, to break the news. In doing so, he made history as the first athlete ever to announce a new team signing via a trading card.
This represents a dramatic update on where the sports, lifestyle, and collectibles industries are heading.
The “Year 24” Drop
Topps immediately launched a print-on-demand Topps NOW card to commemorate the announcement. Built to capture real-time, memorable moments in sports, the Topps NOW platform only prints the exact number of cards ordered by fans within a limited window.
This specific LeBron James drop is available for just 48 hours. The card’s design features “Year 24” prominently in the background, with LeBron depicted in a Sixers uniform in the foreground.
However, the true frenzy lies in the chase. One lucky collector who purchases the base edition will randomly receive a one-of-one autographed version of the card. Adding to the historical weight of the moment, the 1/1 features James’ brand-new signature, which now incorporates a crown drawn over his name.
The hype is already permeating the highest levels of the sports business. Fanatics CEO and Philadelphia native Michael Rubin quickly chimed in on Topps’ Instagram announcement, commenting, “Ok I’m chasing this one.”
There are estimates by some that this could be the most printed Topps Now card of all time.
Commerce as the New Press Conference
To view this simply as a clever marketing stunt by Topps would be missing the broader cultural shift. The trading card hobby has evolved from a niche pastime into a mainstream lifestyle, blending sports, high-end art, and pop culture.
James laid the groundwork for this moment in January 2024 when he signed an exclusive trading-card pact with Topps. Since making the jump, LeBron and Topps have masterfully built a symbiotic relationship. James has been seen wearing custom patches for the brand, including a special “23 Seasons” patch, that are specifically designed to be cut up and embedded into future Topps premium sets.
Now, by allowing Topps to break arguably the biggest NBA news of the year, James is turning commerce into a primary media channel. Ultimately, he is utilizing sports cards as the megaphone for this moment.
The commemorative 23 seasons patch Lebron wore on his jerseys throughout the 2025-26 NBA season.
A Growing Ecosystem of Brand Power
This blurring of the lines between athlete announcements and brand platforms is a trend we are seeing across the sports landscape. Athletes are increasingly leveraging their commercial partnerships to make waves rather than relying strictly on traditional sports journalism.
Recent moves in the sports business world highlight this exact shift:
Video Game Reveals: Announcements that used to be standard press releases are now global media events tied to brand ecosystems. For example, when 2K recently unveiled the cover athletes for NBA 2K27, they didn’t just announce a game; they celebrated Victor Wembanyama becoming the first San Antonio Spurs player to cover the standard edition, sharing the spotlight with transcendent stars like Caitlin Clark and Derrick Rose.
Retirement Announcement: Athletes are increasingly using lifestyle and culture brands to control the narrative of major career milestones. When Serena Williams decided to step away from professional tennis in September 2022, she didn’t call a press conference or sit down with a sports network. Instead, she broke the biggest news of her career by penning a deeply personal essay for Vogue magazine. Yes, Vogue, not Sports Illustrated or ESPN. By using a high-fashion publication to announce her ‘evolution’ away from the sport, Williams proved that modern athletes understand their audience has evolved well beyond the confines of traditional sports journalism and press conferences.
What LeBron did this morning is the ultimate evolution of this trend. It proves that the modern athlete understands that their personal brand holds just as much weight as the networks that broadcast their games.
As the hobby continues to solidify itself as a pillar of sports culture, expect to see this playbook replicated. The symbiotic relationship between global superstars and collectible companies is no longer just about signing memorabilia after the fact, it is about making the collectible the very center of the story.
Will you be chasing the 1/1 Lebron 76ers Topps Now card? Let us know on Mantel.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 22: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of their game against the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena on February 22, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
Among them: will the 76ers attempt to trade for LeBron’s son, Lakers guard Bronny James?
What would a trade between the Lakers and the 76ers for Bronny even look like?
Bronny James might join LeBron on 76ers Getty Images
As the California Post previously reported, LeBron’s decision to leave the Lakers didn’t necessarily mean Bronny would join him on his next team.
But if the 76ers want to make a deal for the 21-year-old guard entering his third NBA season, there are multiple directions they could go.
A simple one: Bronny being traded for Dalen Terry or Jabari Walker and one of the several second-round picks the 76ers own (three in 2027 including their own, potentially three in 2028, their own in 2029, etc.).
Bronny is making $2.3 million in 2026-27 — less than both Terry ( non-guaranteed $2.6 million salary) and Walker ($2.6 million, $250,000 guaranteed) salary for next season.
After acquiring Bronny, the 76ers would have to waive either Terry or Walker to get far enough under the first apron threshold they’re hard-capped at to sign LeBron.
For the Lakers, they’d be able to acquire a real asset for Bronny (second-round pick) and could waive either Terry or Walker to have 15 players on their roster signed to standard NBA contracts with little to no impact on their cap sheet.
Jabari Walker (middle) could be one trade possibility for the 76ers. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
The Lakers could also trade Bronny into the 76ers’ $2.3 million trade exception they received when they traded Eric Gordon to the Grizzlies in February. But the 76ers would still have to trim their roster to make room for both LeBron and Bronny.
Since the Lakers drafted Bronny out of USC with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, making him and LeBron the first father-son duo in league history, the Lakers have developed the 6-foot-2 guard into a reliable shooter with defensive upside.
Bronny spent significant portions of his rookie and sophomore seasons with the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers who have been rebranded as the Coachella Valley Lakers.
He improved significantly during his second season, upping his field goal percentage (50.5% from 41.9%), 3-point percentage (37.6% from 33.6%) and assist-to-turnover ratio (4:2.6 from 4.6:3.3).
Bronny played 42 regular season games for the Lakers in 2025-26, and was a full-time rotation player after Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves suffered their regular season-ending injuries.
He averaged 5.6 points and shot 35.7% on 3s in the final 10 games of the regular season.
Dalen Terry is a trade possibility for the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
If the Lakers keep Bronny on the roster going into the season, he’s expected to compete with newcomer Collin Sexton, rookie Cameron Carr and recently-acquired Jaden Hardy for reserve backcourt minutes.
(@big_business_) July 24, 2026
