08/13/26
July 24, 2026
LeBron Chooses the 76ers: After considering retirement, LeBron James has chosen to sign a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he joins Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown. Philly were last NBA champs in 1983 behind Dr. J and Moses Malone. LeBron's salary is only $4 million a year unless I'm mistaken but he makes $80 million a year in endorsement money so he might be OK financially.
posted by rcade to basketball at 01:31 PM - 6 comments
If it wasn't going to be one of the more obvious three of GSW/CLE/MIA, I was kind of hoping he'd land in Minnesota (ANT and LaMelo were reportedly campaigning). That would've been fun.
But here we are! If Kawhi actually winds up playing meaningful basketball in Toronto this season the Atlantic Division is going to be pretty fascinating.
Edit: It almost certainly won't happen, but I'm selfishly wondering if this opens up the idea of a Kyrie for VJ Edgecombe trade.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:59 PM on July 24, 2026
In two years, LeBron will be gone, Embiid will be gone or on fumes, Paul George will be gone, and someone will owe Jaylen Brown over 65 million dollars guaranteed.
The Sixers will rest LeBron and Embiid during the regular season to the maximum extent that the league will allow.
posted by beaverboard at 10:27 PM on July 24, 2026
I was glad to see Iverson gone from Philly, never cared to watch him try to do that much stuff by himself.
I enjoyed the Miller-Dalembert-Iguodala Sixers that followed. That was a fun bunch to watch.
Time will tell how much fun this new group will be.
posted by beaverboard at 12:03 AM on July 25, 2026
My son and I have the same opinion. There's a couple of different scenarios. First, LeBron acts as the mature and honored veteran who stabilizes the team, gets them working harmoniously, and the 76ers absolutely crush the East. Second, after initial success, one or more of the 4 principals becomes dissatisfied with his role, and he begins playing for himself rather than within the overall scheme. This causes some slippage in the standings, and the 76ers begin the playoffs as a top 4 team but not as the overall leader. Good coaching from LeBron straightens things out in time for a strong playoff run. Third, scenario 2 happens and neither Nick Nurse nor LeBron can stop the damage. The result is an early exit from the playoffs.
One thing about Jaylen Brown is that he wants to be the number 1 on the team. That doesn't mean the best on the court, rather he wants to be the "featured" player. In Boston, a pecking order of sorts was established among the starters by the order of their pre-game introduction. The top of the order was established by whomever was introduced last. When Tatum was playing, he was the one. It didn't matter how anyone else was playing, nor did Tatum's performance matter. Tatum was the Lone Ranger, and Jaylen Brown was his Tonto. Indispensable but not the top. Now Brown is free of Tatum's shadow, but now it's LeBron. How will the 2 of them handle it? Will it affect the play of Maxey, Embid, or Edgecomb? Hang on, Philadelphia, it's going to be a fun ride.
posted by Howard_T at 01:51 PM on July 25, 2026
The Sixers only got one title out of the Moses Malone - Dr. J team.
That one title was a corker, though.
The Celtics were lucky to get swept by the Bucks in the 1983 playoffs, which led to the resignation of Bill Fitch.
The Bucks then got trampled by the Sixers. However, they were the only team to win a playoff game against Philly that year.
Part of Malone's synergy with the Sixers was that they had been released from their futility by trading Darryl Dawkins.
Part of KC Jones' synergy with the Celtics the following season was that they had been released from the iron grip of Fitch.
posted by beaverboard at 11:49 AM on July 26, 2026
I was expecting him to become a Golden State Warrior. The additions of Brown and LeBron make them a fun team to watch this season, but I won't be expecting a credible championship run.