Love Philly? So do we. Let’s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today.
It was long rumored, but still felt far-fetched. The former Laker, Cavalier and Heat member who’s set multiple NBA records and created untold hours of conversation over his status among the upper echelons of basketball greats is really coming to Philadelphia.
In a statement posted on social media, LeBron James said joining the Sixers will be the final move of his career.
“This is my last decision. 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,” James said.
“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.”
The reaction to the news was quick and voluminous.
“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,” Gov. Josh Shapiro posted online.
HIs proclamation recognized James’ “great philanthropic work” and “bright future in Philadelphia” as he “joins the Philadelphia 76ers for his best season yet.”
The addition of James improves the Sixers chances of winning it all by 50,000%, according to eight-year-old Sixers fan Jordan Daily.
“We’re going to probably win the whole thing,” Daily told Billy Penn Friday as he practiced his pitching with his father in Dickinson Square Park in South Philly’s Pennsport shortly after the news was announced.
“We had so many busts during the process,” said 38-year-old Matt Daily. “I don’t want to be negative. So, I will say that I think this is kind of what the process led to. You have guys like [Tyrese] Maxey, you have guys like [V.J.] Edgecombe, now we have LeBron. Embiid is a warrior. I think the process it is what got us here. And you know, guys like Ben Simmons can just be like a memory.”
On the other half of the court, Steven Wu was shooting free throws. He said he used to be a “LeBron hater,” because he favored Stephen Curry during the rivalry between the two greats. Now that James is with the Sixers, that’s changed though.
“It’s pretty cool that he’s in Philly,” he said “Hopefully, he can bring a championship here. And I’m super excited.”
For long time Philly sports fans, the addition of a highly skilled veteran like LeBron brought comparisons to years gone by.
“This reminds me of when we finally won the last championship in ’83 when [the Sixers] got Moses [Malone]. Because Darryl Dawkins was good, but he was no Moses,” 63-year-old Michael Valania told Billy Penn at Jaxx Steaks Taproom. “Moses basically finished that team off. I equate it to that. I equate it to Pete Rose trying to get the Phillies over in the ’80s. It was just an established veteran that’s going to just bring focus on the team.”
While he was talking, Valania’s group chat was buzzing, speculating how much ticket prices were going to rise with the news that James will be on the team this season. The South Philly resident said he doesn’t think the Sixers were done, and could try to trade the team’s injury-plagued star Joel Embiid for — the admittedly also injury-plagued — Anthony Davis, to fit better with James.
Luke Epps disagreed. He said James is the “perfect facilitator” for all the talent that’s currently on the roster.
“I’ve always trusted the process. Every year, they drag me in and I love it,” he said. “I mean, we got to be the favorites to win the championship this year.”
New Sixer Jaylen Brown, who was traded to the team earlier this summer from the Boston Celtics, had a much briefer response, simply posting: “#throwtheballup.” The hashtag has been used by the Sixers as a slogan to help market excitement for the upcoming season. That job of boosting interest in the team is a lot easier with James on board.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley posted “Welcome to the city!” and invited James for a round of golf.
Former Temple basketball coach and three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley posted an exuberant video on social media: “We got the king, ya’ll… Great choice, my guy!”
Even the Merriam-Webster dictionary got in on the reactions, referencing the Sixers longtime unofficial slogan “Trust the Process” in its post on social media.
James said he really wrestled with the decision following the disappointing end to the Lakers past season, which ended in a second-round sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“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 this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give,” James wrote online.
“The last few weeks have really been special. I’ve never been able to have no clue what to do and take real time to just think. I’ve had an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all out. This is my last decision.”
