James joins Philadelphia 76ers
LeBron James has joined the Philadelphia 76ers, concluding a 25-day free agency period. This move follows his decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers after eight years and one NBA championship in 2020. James, who will be entering his 24th NBA season, became a highly sought-after player on the market.
Teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Golden State Warriors were linked to the player. James and his agent, Rich Paul, indicated a patient approach to his decision. The 76ers ultimately secured James, with reports suggesting he signed at a discount.
The announcement of James’s decision on July 24 coincided with social media posts from James himself, ESPN’s Shams Charania, and Topps, a sporting card company. During a recent Fanatics Fest event, James referenced the phrase “trust the process,” an earlier slogan of the 76ers from Joel Embiid’s younger days.
Embiid’s past comments resurface
Following James’s signing with the 76ers, an old tweet from Joel Embiid has resurfaced. In June 2018, when James was considering his options after leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers, Embiid posted on X that the Lakers would “FOREVER” be the team of Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant. This tweet was made as it became apparent James was heading to the Lakers.
The tweet from Embiid stated, “The Lakers are FOREVER gonna be Kobe’s and Magic’s team…. Process that.” This comment has drawn reactions from some NBA fans on social media. Some users on X suggested that James might need to consider the respect his new teammates have for him, referencing Embiid’s past remarks and other comments attributed to Jaylen Brown regarding James’s son.
One user on X commented, “Bron finna be sharing a changing room with a guy who was slandering his sperm and a guy who wrote off his lakers tenure before it started.” Another user wrote, “Embiid said this. Brown called his kid trash. Can’t wait for this to all explode.” A third user added, “And he went to ring chase with this,” including laughing emojis.
Impact of the signing
The addition of James to a roster that includes Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown positions the 76ers as potential contenders for the 2027 NBA Finals. For the 76ers, the move opens a significant opportunity to win their first championship since 1983. James will attempt to become the first NBA player to win four championships with four different teams.
The acquisition of Brown from the Boston Celtics for Paul George and four future picks on July 1 was a key factor in the 76ers’ pursuit of James. Before this trade, the 76ers considered themselves longshots for James. After the trade, they were fully committed to acquiring him.
Mike Gansey, the 76ers’ first-year president of basketball operations, has a history with James. They were both top high school basketball players in Ohio, with James winning the Mr. Basketball award in 2001, an award for which Gansey was runner-up. James and Embiid were also teammates on Team USA for the Paris Olympics, where they won gold. Tyrese Maxey, who shares an agent with James, also worked out with him in previous summers. Maxey and Embiid reportedly contacted James multiple times during his free agency.
James expressed his sentiments on social media after the announcement, stating, “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 also thanked Los Angeles and mentioned his continued affection for Miami and Northeast Ohio.
The 76ers‘ roster now features Embiid, Brown, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and James, forming a talented starting five.
This story was originally published on July 25, 2026.
Source: sports.yahoo.com