Ever since LeBron James informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would be signing elsewhere in free agency this offseason, one of the biggest stories in basketball has been which team he’ll sign and end his legendary NBA career with.
The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers are thought to be the two favorites. However, a third team has reportedly now entered the mix: the Philadelphia 76ers.
This stems from a July 2 report from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who asserted during a Thursday segment of “NBA Today” that LeBron’s long-standing connection to 76ers star guard Tyrese Maxey (because they’re both signed to Klutch Sports Group, which is founded by LeBron’s business partner Rich Paul) will be how the 76ers attempt to lure LeBron to Philadelphia.
Windhorst asserted that Maxey and James are close, and have attended numerous events together. What’s more, LeBron reportedly has a good relationship with 76ers star center Joel Embiid, as the two won a gold medal for Team USA at the Paris 2024 Olympics together.
Philadelphia finalized a trade for Jaylen Brown with the Boston Celtics on July 1, which included the 76ers sending Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks to Boston in exchange for the five-time All-Star.
Brown being on the Celtics already makes them look like a favorite to win the 2027 NBA Championship. Adding LeBron to that mix would have that team even more lethal.
Of course, just because the 76ers are interested doesn’t mean LeBron heading there is a done deal. But he does have strong ties to the franchise’s top players, which could be a deciding factor on where LeBron goes next.
