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Category: Sixers/NBA

  • What the new-look Sixers need from each star, including Joel Embiid’s health and LeBron James’ championship habits

    What the new-look Sixers need from each star, including Joel Embiid’s health and LeBron James’ championship habits

    About two months still remain before the 76ers get their first crack at putting together their star-studded puzzle, when training camp opens with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown on the roster.

    The Sixers now boast four players who have made at least one All-NBA team, and two former MVPs in James and Joel Embiid. Their fifth starter, VJ Edgecombe, is coming off a fantastic rookie season.

    Though this is now a team with legitimate championship aspirations, it will take individual sacrifice and adaptability to combine these talents on the court. Here is what the Sixers need from each of their five starters:

    Tyrese Maxey

    A healthy pinkie finger

    Maxey is coming off his second consecutive season with a sprain in the same pinkie, which impacted his shooting and ball handling. Though he admirably returned exactly three weeks after sustaining the injury in early March, he acknowledged he periodically aggravated it throughout the regular season’s stretch run and playoffs.

    He went 3-of-19 from three-point range in the Sixers’ second-round sweep to the New York Knicks, and matter-of-factly said after the season-ending Game 4 loss that the finger “just hurt.”

    Now Maxey is getting the offseason to heal that injury. Was it just horrible luck that he hurt the same finger two seasons in a row? Or is there any preventative treatment or protection that can make it less vulnerable this season?

    Sixers center Joel Embiid and guard Tyrese Maxey have a two-man game that will still be an asset this season. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    More play off the ball

    Maxey already was talking in May about using his offensive “gravity” while off the ball more frequently, and drilling those scenarios with Edgecombe as the primary ballhandler. Now, Maxey will have the opportunity to be on the receiving end of one of the best passers of all-time in James.

    Maxey should be able to find plenty of moments to set screens, cut, and come off screens to attack with momentum or find space to launch three-pointers. Coach Nick Nurse said earlier this month that he also wants Maxey to keep exploring ways to score with his midrange game.

    The Franchise

    Embiid bestowed that nickname on Maxey years ago. He has earned it with his on-court ascent into an All-NBA player and, more importantly, the tone-setter and leader in the locker room.

    The Sixers are adding two stars with championship experience and overall gravitas. But Maxey is the one who has been here through the roller coaster of the past six-plus years. That holds immense value while building a team aiming for a long-awaited breakthrough season.

    Joel Embiid

    Health

    Well, duh.

    Embiid, who has played in only 96 games the previous three seasons combined, was optimistic during his end-of-season news conference that he and the Sixers have figured out how to manage his surgically repaired left knee. Bob Myers, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment’s president, reiterated that in early June, noting Embiid had no offseason surgeries planned. Embiid then reportedly reinforced that he feels healthy to James in his pitch to join the Sixers.

    Actions over words, of course. Knee management could not negate Embiid getting popped in the oblique or appendicitis, the main culprits for his absences late last season. But when Embiid was able to play consistently from late November through early February, he looked like an All-Star.

    Pick your spots

    The Sixers are no longer going to run their entire offense through Embiid. The 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player also probably will not see as many double-teams, given the star power surrounding him.

    The middle of the post should still be an area where Embiid can be fed the ball and operate. And dominate whenever the matchup dictates. It will be interesting to track the type of chemistry he can establish with James and Brown, after already creating a lethal two-man game with Maxey. Being able to complement his automatic midrange jumper with a more consistent three-pointer — he shot 33.3% from long range last season — also would provide a big boost.

    Embiid said last season that he wants the ball to move and to keep teammates involved. Time to put that into practice for an entire season.

    Defensive improvements

    It is unrealistic to expect Embiid will ever return to his stature as an NBA Defensive Player of the Year contender. In recent seasons, he was deliberately not jumping as much for rebounds and to block shots in an effort to protect that knee.

    LeBron James chose underdog Philly like Bryce Harper, Pete Rose, and Saquon Barkley. He chose us.

    But can Embiid regain his mobility in space while defending the pick and roll, after the Knicks attacked him in those actions throughout that playoff series? That would benefit the aggressive defensive playmaking approach of Maxey and Edgecombe on the perimeter, and James while he likely conserves his energy on that end of the floor.

    Jaylen Brown

    Buy-in as a co-star — again

    It’s easy to get hung up on Brown repeatedly calling last season with the Boston Celtics his “favorite” so far in the NBA. Sure, it was because he was the bona fide top scorer. But he also spoke publicly about helping teammates, whom outsiders expected to take a gap year while fellow star Jayson Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery, exceed expectations by finishing second in the Eastern Conference standings.

    Could Brown get the same type of satisfaction in helping the Sixers finally clear that second-round hurdle? In elevating Maxey and Embiid and Edgecombe, even if it means taking a slightly more complementary role?

    Unlike James, Brown did not choose the Sixers as his new playing destination. He also has not yet answered questions on this topic in a formal introductory news conference. But Brown was already calling new teammates Maxey and Edgecombe during his first Twitch live stream after the trade.

    Jaylen Brown will team up with the Sixers this season after battling them in the Eastern Conference playoffs last year. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    Catch and shoot — and run

    Brown is excellent at using his blend of athleticism and strength to go 1-on-1 and generate his own shots. But with the ball theoretically being more spread around with this roster makeup, Brown also should have opportunities to immediately fire off the catch.

    Could we see an uptick in his three-point efficiency, after connecting on 35.8% of his 5.3 attempts per game throughout his career?

    An underrated part of Brown’s game, meanwhile, is that he ranked 14th in the NBA last season in fastbreak points (3.6 per game). He can help spearhead the Sixers’ effort alongside the electric Maxey and Edgecombe — and, yes, James, who last season led the NBA in that category (5.7 per game).

    Perimeter defense

    Brown might not be the Sixers’ best perimeter defender, a title that belongs to fellow newcomer Dean Wade. But Brown is regarded as a two-way player. Assuming the Sixers close with their starting lineup when fully healthy — aka, will not have Wade on the floor — Brown (and Edgecombe) likely will be tasked with guarding prolific offensive players.

    The Sixers now boast LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. How do they stack up in the loaded East?

    If Brown’s workload dips on the offensive end — he ranked third in the NBA in usage rate last season (35.1%) — he should have more energy to dedicate on the opposite side of the floor.

    LeBron James

    The connector

    There already is outside hubbub about ESPN’s Shams Charania’s reporting defining James as the Sixers’ point guard. But that is how a team leverages James’ still-elite skill, as a legendary passer even while becoming the league’s all-time scorer. The 7.2 assists he averaged last season do not capture James’ role as a connector.

    James thrived in that type of facilitating role last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, paving the way for in-prime stars Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to carry the scoring load. And that playmaking and basketball IQ will hold up even as his body continues to age throughout this two-year contract with the Sixers.

    LeBron James, left, has a deep bond with Tyrese Maxey, right, that played a part in his decision to come to Philly. Chris Szagola / AP
    Pace yourself

    James is about to enter his NBA-record 24th season, and is choosing the grueling push for another championship. He also takes maniacal care of his body, though some freak injuries cannot be fully prevented.

    Like Embiid, it is most important that James is healthy for the playoffs. So don’t be surprised by the rest days, or even if his in-game minutes are slightly limited to gear up for that postseason run.

    Championship habits

    The internet is already getting glimpses of James’ 5 a.m. workouts and gym time with Maxey, his longtime friend and fellow Klutch client.

    But his new Sixers teammates and staff are about to get an up-close view at how James moves through every single day. How he attacks practices and games. How he recovers on off days. How he spends down time on road trips. How he communicates in the locker room. How he handles the fanfare and media circus that follows him wherever he goes.

    Those habits matter on a championship quest. And the players who have not reached the NBA’s pinnacle — even fellow stars Maxey and Embiid — should have plenty to learn.

    VJ Edgecombe

    Coast-to-coast

    Even before the Sixers landed James, Nurse said he wanted Edgecombe to seize more opportunities to grab the rebound and take it all the way to the basket on the opposite end. The second-year guard is an unreal athlete, and this is a way he can get easy buckets even when plays are not frequently run for him in the halfcourt offense.

    Improve shooting

    As a rookie, Edgecombe already flashed an uncanny fearlessness to shake off slow shooting starts and still knock down crunch-time shots. He tied for sixth in the NBA with 12 three-pointers in “clutch” time, and shot an eye-popping 54.5% from long range in such situations.

    The next step? More consistency in those opening three quarters. He is likely to get open looks, with defenses focused on the Sixers’ more proven stars.

    This Delco man sunburned LeBron James’ jersey into his back in Sea Isle. He called it an act of ‘Philly toughness’
    Patience

    Yes, the Sixers’ blockbuster additions are going to move Edgecombe down the pecking order after a fantastic rookie season when he immediately brought two-way production and rare maturity in charged road environments.

    But he also will play in lineups with reserves, and more scoring chances. It also is reasonable to expect Edgecombe to get increased opportunities when Embiid and/or James inevitably miss games. Even when his team was fully healthy during last season’s playoffs, Edgecombe still found a way to rise in massive moments.

    Edgecombe’s time is coming. But second-year players — especially who were drafted this high — rarely get to experience the stakes of the season that awaits. And don’t underestimate what Edgecombe, who has deep respect for the game’s history, already expects to glean from being around James and Brown.

  • LeBron James chose underdog Philly like Bryce Harper, Pete Rose, and Saquon Barkley. He chose us.

    LeBron James chose underdog Philly like Bryce Harper, Pete Rose, and Saquon Barkley. He chose us.

    To witness the reaction to LeBron James’ decision to play in Philadelphia the next two seasons, you might have thought we’d beaten the Russians to the moon or ended the next world war. Folks drove down Broad Street honking their horns, heads hanging out of their cars. Total strangers standing on subway trains staring at their phones got the notification, looked up, and high-fived. Somewhere, lions lay down with lambs.

    This, for a 41-year-old coming off the worst of his 23 seasons?

    Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes. But why?

    Because Philadelphians won. They won the LeBron Sweepstakes.

    The King chose Philly.

    The King chose us.

    James chose a franchise that hasn’t won an NBA title in 43 years, has only one title in almost 60 years, and hasn’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs in 25 years. He chose a city with three total championships since James was born in 1984; James himself has won four. He chose a city with a national reputation for abrasiveness, confrontation, and, above all, losing — a reputation resented by the residents of Philadelphia and its region.

    Still: He chose us. He might occasionally commute to Philly from Manhattan, but he’s paying his taxes here.

    If Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe again fall short in the playoffs, LeBron still chose us. He could have joined Steph Curry in San Francisco, Giannis Antetokounmpo in Miami, James Harden in Cleveland.

    But no. We won. And we acted like it.

    Phil Martelli, revered basketball coach and lifelong Philadelphian, knows why.

    “I’ve had this in my head forever. People think we’re bad losers. That’s not what we are,” Martelli said. “We are insufferable winners.”

    Validation

    I’ve been a Philadelphian for 31 of my 57 years. Martelli’s been a Philly guy for all 71 of his. I told him that, in my three decades, I’ve observed that Philly has an inferiority complex, a chip on its shoulder, and a healthy sense of pride.

    “No doubt,” Martelli agreed. “No doubt.”

    So, when good things happen, a dam always breaks. From climbing greased streetlights to eating horse manure (this really happened), Philly fans have earned a reputation of, well, overexpression when the rare championship finally lands at their feet.

    It is that rarity, that desperation for validation, that generates euphoria when a big name decides that Philly is good enough for him.

    That’s the key: The decision must belong to the player.

    LeBron James validated Philadelphians when he picked us. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    That’s why Reggie White doesn’t qualify. Eric Lindros, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Roy Halladay, all trades or purchases.

    Bryce Harper, however, already had won an MVP by the spring of 2019. The Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, and White Sox courted him. So did the Padres, until they signed Manny Machado, who, folks might not remember, was the Phillies’ first choice. But the fans always preferred Harp, and, ultimately, Harp preferred them. And he was only 26.

    Similarly, by the 1978 offseason, Pete Rose had been a National League MVP, but he also was the MVP of one of his two World Series titles with Cincinnati. He was a stone-cold winner, and, even though he would be 37 in 1978, he was still the top free agent. The Phillies’ four-year, $3.24 million offer was the worst he received — others included more money, a lifetime $100,000 annual pension, oil and beer investments, and racehorse ownership — but Rose saw a winner in Philly, and Philly utterly rejoiced.

    The Phillies do ‘need some help’ by trades. But they also need some from Bryce Harper and his teammates.

    Compared with Harper and Rose, there was less excitement (and less competition) when Saquon Barkley signed with the Eagles in 2024. The Bengals, Texans, Ravens, and Bears contended but the Eagles won, and Barkley, a Lehigh Valley native, came home, to much rejoicing. That season Barkley produced record-setting numbers and pushed the Eagles to a Super Bowl win, so it’s tempting to recast his choice as being a bigger deal than it was. He’s still never going to have to buy his own beer in Philly.

    Saquon was the centerpiece of a run to the Eagles’ second Lombardi Trophy. Rose pushed the 1980 Phillies to the first World Series win in franchise history. Harper won a second MVP, in 2021, and led the Phillies to the 2022 pennant.

    They delivered on their promise.

    This seldom is the case.

    Unfulfilled promise?

    Age, injury, and Ryan Howard made Jim Thome redundant in the mid-2000s. Cliff Lee rejected the Yankees and took less to return to the Phillies in 2011, but to no good end. Jake Arrieta was a big-time bust, Lance Parrish was a late-80’s disappointment, Al Horford was a bad fit with Embiid, and Nnamdi Asomugha was cooked by the time he became a “Dream Team” Eagle in 2011.

    LeBron never will be classified among Philly’s worst signings, if only because his two-year, $8 million contract earns him 33% less than Anfernee Simons (for casuals, Simons is the new backup shooting guard). LeBron would be a magnificent value at $4 million a year if he was an assistant coach.

    The Sixers now boast LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. How do they stack up in the loaded East?

    Still, there are expectations. After LeBron signed, the Sixers’ aggregate odds to win the NBA title jumped from tied for sixth-best, at 20-1, to third-best, at about 9-1.

    “You know there’s people already staking out spots on Broad Street for the parade,” Martelli said.

    When Rose, Harper, and Saquon signed, everybody got excited. Nobody staked out spots on Broad Street.

    The LeBron-mania is palpable. Ticket and jersey sales have been inflated beyond sanity and availability, with no real end in sight. Don’t expect Knicks fans to take over Xfinity Mobile Arena this season.

    There has been excitement surrounding arrivals before, but never anything like this. The only arrival that might cause a similar disruption would involve a biblical rapture.

    Like that king, this King will be expected to raise his following from the dead.

    And, like that king, this King has chosen us.

  • A LeBron fan’s guide to Sixers fandom: A fun song, weird injuries, and a divisive ‘Process’

    A LeBron fan’s guide to Sixers fandom: A fun song, weird injuries, and a divisive ‘Process’

    When LeBron James signed with the 76ers, he wasn’t just bringing his talent to the roster, he was bringing a whole new fan base to Philadelphia as well.

    As one of the most famous basketball players of all time, James’ fans run deep and wide. So if you’ve spent the past few years rooting for the Los Angeles Lakers after multiple stints as a Cleveland Cavaliers fan and experienced a couple championships while rooting for James on the Miami Heat, here’s what you need to know about being a Sixers fan:

    Here come the Sixers

    There’s a chance you’ll be hearing a lot of the Sixers victory song, “Here Come the Sixers” this season, so be prepared to know every word.

    The tune was commissioned in 1975 by the then-general manager Pat Williams as a way to bring energy into the arena. Randy Childress, Terry Rocap, and Joe Sherwood, better known as the band Fresh Aire, created the song that’s still used today and encourages fans to “clap your hands” and “stomp your feet” for the Sixers.

    In 1986, when Williams left the Sixers, the song became less used until the early 2000s, when WIP host Angelo Cataldi repopularized it on his show.

    If you can remember the hand clapping, the feet stomping, and can count “one, two, three, four, five, Sixers,” you already know the basics of the song.

    How ‘Here Come the Sixers’ became the hit record three Delco friends once dreamed of

    Odd injuries are common

    If you’ve ever watched an episode of The Pitt, Grey’s Anatomy, or any other medical drama and thought that some of the ailments seemed a little far-fetched, then you don’t know the Sixers.

    Shortly after Markelle Fultz returned after a monthslong shoulder injury, he collided with Joel Embiid during a game, breaking Embiid’s orbital bone in 2018. And it wouldn’t be the only time Embiid broke that facial bone. He did so again in 2022 after an elbow to the face in Game 6 of the first round of playoffs against the Toronto Raptors. He also dealt with Bell’s palsy, or facial paralysis, on the left side of his face during the 2024 playoff run. And these are just Embiid’s face-related injuries.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid adjusts his mask during a game against the Charlotte Hornets in 2024.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    But if those aren’t convincing enough, there also is the time in 2018 Zhaire Smith ate a chicken dish during his rookie season and suffered a severe allergic reaction because of sesame in the dish. Fortunately, Smith was OK.

    With Ben Simmons’ fractured foot after rolling over his ankle in training camp as a rookie, or the time Kelly Oubre Jr. reportedly being hit by a car, the injury list goes on and on.

    Don’t say you haven’t been warned.

    Joel Embiid injury tracker

    Franklin the Dog

    The mascot is a dog.

    Yes, on a team with Constitutional-esque branding, the mascot is a dog. Franklin the dog to be exact.

    But there’s still a founding father tie-in there. Franklin gets his name from none other than Ben Franklin, whose legacy lives on in the Constitution, electricity, and a giant dog with blue fur.

    Franklin was introduced in 2015, marketed as a “fan’s best friend,” after the Sixers went four years without a mascot.

    Before Franklin, there was Hip-Hop, the acrobatic rabbit known for slam dunks. Hip-Hop, who reigned as the primary mascot from 1998 to 2011, was brought back as a secondary mascot for the 2025-26 season.

    The first Sixers mascot, however, was Big Shot, a fuzzy blue creature with red hair and big sunglasses, who came from the same creators as the Phillies’ mascot, the Phillie Phanatic. Big Shot was the Sixers’ mascot from 1982 to 1996.

    Sixers fans hated Big Shot. Then a guy from Bridesburg made the mascot come alive. | from 2023

    Trust the Process?

    “Trust the Process” has become a slogan closely associated with the Sixers’ rebuild process, starting in 2013 under former general manager Sam Hinkie.

    During the Hinkie years, “The Process” became synonymous with tanking for draft picks in an attempt to rebuild. Despite some big trades, like trading the team’s only All-Star at the time, Jrue Holiday to the New Orleans Pelicans for the sixth overall draft pick, some continued to trust.

    Sixers GM Sam Hinkie (left) and coach Brett Brown oversaw the early Process years.Steven Falk

    Others weren’t so sold, and the phrase became divisive among Sixers fans.

    “The Process,” however, has since led to the Sixers acquiring Jaylen Brown and James during this offseason, with James even hinting during Fanatics Fest a few weeks before signing with Philly that he wanted to go somewhere that he could “trust the process.”

    Love it or hate it, “The Process” is part of the Sixers lore.

    Learn the language

    If you’re going to fit in at a Sixers game, or really any Philly sporting event, it’s important to know that it’s OK to boo. It’s even encouraged.

    This doesn’t just apply to opposing teams or bad calls by the refs, it goes for the Sixers own players, too. If a player — or the team at large — isn’t performing well, Philly fans aren’t afraid to let them hear it.

    When the Sixers are playing against the top talent from an opposing team, especially the Knicks or the Celtics, you better let them hear it as well.

    A Phillies fan boos after the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the 2025 NLDS at Citizens Bank Park.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    And while being a Sixers fan doesn’t automatically mean being a fan of other Philly teams, it’s best to learn the words to the Eagles chant as well. Those aren’t resolved for Lincoln Financial Field, and more often than not, they’ll ring out at any Philly event, sports-related or not.

    It’s especially common after a loss by one of the other big four sports teams, so start studying.

    North Philly’s Dawn Staley rings the Sixers’ bell before Game 4 of a first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks in 2024.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Fast facts

    Those are some of the big things that make up the basic knowledge of a Sixers fan, but these are some other fun facts to keep in mind as well:

    • Sixers managing partner Josh Harris also owns the NFL’s Washington Commanders and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.
    • The Sixers’ practice facility is in Camden.
    • A major series win in the playoffs, like an Eastern Conference championship, will be celebrated on Broad Street.
    • The Sixers Stixers is the official drumline of the Sixers and performs at games and events.
    • The Sixers share an arena with the Flyers, and a new arena is slated to open in 2030 that will accommodate the WNBA expansion team as well.
    • There is a pregame tradition for home games that includes local celebrities, athletes from other sports, and more ringing a Liberty Bell replica before games to fire up the arena.
  • The Sixers now boast LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. How do they stack up in the loaded East?

    The Sixers now boast LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. How do they stack up in the loaded East?

    The 76ers have executed the NBA’s splashiest offseason by signing all-time great LeBron James and trading for All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown … and still may not be the favorites in the Eastern Conference?

    That is how deep the East has become, at least on paper. It is a counter to the West, which may have the two best long-term teams and superstars in Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

    Rich Paul explains the Tyrese Maxey asterisk and how the Sixers learned LeBron James’ decision

    But 11 East teams seem primed to compete for a top-six seed. That is too many for the play-in tournament, much less the actual playoffs.

    Injuries, in-season moves, and other factors can impact the East landscape from late October through June. But here is where things stand following a wild summer:

    The defending champ

    New York Knicks

    The Knicks deserve this respect after their torrid run to the NBA title last month. And they are running it back with much of their full rotation — including ’Nova Knicks Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart — except backup center Mitchell Robinson. That there has been no repeat NBA champion since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018 illustrates the steep challenge now facing the Knicks. But they still belong at the top of this ladder until they are knocked down.

    The challengers

    Sixers

    The Sixers might now boast the NBA’s most talented starting lineup, but how long does it take to gel? Health is always a concern with former MVP Joel Embiid — and, to a lesser extent, James at this point in his career. But the Sixers appear better equipped to withstand that by adding Brown to the dynamic Tyrese Maxey-VJ Edgecombe backcourt.

    Detroit Pistons

    The Pistons also deserve respect as last year’s top playoff seed, while anchored by MVP contender (and still ascending) Cade Cunningham. But losing in the second round of the playoffs demonstrates that steps remain for them to become legitimate contenders.

    LeBron James’ decision to join the Sixers was one of several large dominoes in the Eastern Conference. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    They’re in a contract stalemate with restricted free agent (and Roman Catholic product) Jalen Duren, an All-NBA selection last season who struggled mightily in the playoffs. But they addressed outside shooting concerns by trading for former Sixer Isaiah Joe and also added John Collins.

    Boston Celtics

    Perhaps this is too high for Boston following the Brown trade that netted Paul George. But the Celtics are in a similar spot as last season, just with the now-healthy Jayson Tatum as the unquestioned top offensive option. George is a secondary offensive option, and they also added Robinson to address their center void, which was exposed during their first-round playoff loss to the Sixers.

    Figuring out the post-Brown era is a task for Joe Mazzulla, the reigning NBA Coach of the Year who may have gone too far with an unorthodox starting lineup in Game 7 against the Sixers and overall three-point-heavy scheme.

    Cleveland Cavaliers

    It might be fair to call the Cavaliers a subpar Eastern Conference finals team, given how that series went against the Knicks. Then they missed out on a sentimental second reunion with James, leaving them with a team that boasts an impressive core — All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell and former Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley — but feels like it may have run its course.

    Year 2 is when LeBron James teams hit their championship stride. Here’s how they did it.

    Perhaps Cleveland will now pivot to adding a complementary player such as Jonathan Kuminga, but is that enough to move the needle (or maintain their positioning) in this loading-up East?

    The wild cards

    Indiana Pacers

    Remember them? Assuming Tyrese Haliburton returns to All-NBA form following Achilles surgery, can the Pacers recapture the magic of their 2025 Finals run? Indiana started prepping for the upcoming season by trading for center Ivica Zubac at the February deadline but didn’t add a high draft pick thanks to horrendous lottery luck.

    Toronto Raptors

    If the Kawhi Leonard trade finally goes through, move the Raptors into the challenger tier. Leonard, who would return to Toronto still as one of the NBA’s best two-way wings when healthy, creates a super-fun duo with All-Star Scottie Barnes. The Raptors also still have helpful complementary players such as Immanuel Quickley and Collin Murray-Boyles.

    Miami Heat

    The Heat certainly seem like they’d belong in the challenger tier after trading for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to pair with All-Star Bam Adebayo. But missing out on a reunion with James leaves Miami with a severe lack of playmaking and overall perimeter punch.

    Atlanta Hawks

    Atlanta was one of the hottest teams during the second half of last season and gave the Knicks their toughest postseason test. The Hawks successfully pivoted from the Trae Young era to building around All-Star Jalen Johnson and CJ McCollum.

    Following this summer’s blockbuster trade, Paul George will now shift to the second option in Boston.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    This offseason, they traded for stout perimeter defender Lu Dort to play alongside 2025-26 Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels and drafted intriguing point guard Kingston Flemings.

    Orlando Magic

    Orlando has not changed much besides its coach, with Sean Sweeney taking over after impactful assistant stints with the Spurs and Dallas Mavericks. Two big questions facing this roster: Can Franz Wagner stay healthy, and can Paolo Banchero improve his efficiency?

    Charlotte Hornets

    One of last season’s feel-good stories has already undergone a shakeup by trading LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Hornets still have an exciting young core with Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller, but now feel a tick below these other teams after losing in last season’s play-in.

  • Four more years? Agent Rich Paul thinks Sixers will ‘energize’ LeBron and could extend his career

    Four more years? Agent Rich Paul thinks Sixers will ‘energize’ LeBron and could extend his career

    LeBron James signed a two-year contract to end his career with the Sixers, but his agent and longtime friend, Rich Paul, recently suggested that it’s possible James plays for even longer.

    “I think Philadelphia’s going to energize him,” Paul told ESPN. “Maybe we get two [seasons]. Maybe we get four.”

    James, who is entering his 24th NBA season, is currently 41, and will turn 42 on Dec. 30. He will be the oldest active player in the NBA next season, but he’s far from the oldest ever.

    Rich Paul explains the Tyrese Maxey asterisk and how the Sixers learned LeBron James’ decision

    Where does LeBron rank among oldest all-time NBA players?

    James will begin the season as the ninth-oldest player in NBA history. If he completes his two season contract with the Sixers, he would retire as the fourth-oldest player in NBA history.

    The oldest player to ever play an NBA game was Nat Hickey, who played his final game on Jan. 28, 1948 at 45 years, 363 days old.

    Even if James were to play four more seasons — and retire after the 2029-30 season — he still would not claim the top spot, because of his late December birthday. But he could finish second, and would be the oldest of any modern-era NBA player.

    Draymond Green is right about VJ Edgecombe. But he couldn’t be more wrong about LeBron James. | David Murphy

    Have any grandfathers played in the NBA before?

    OK, as far as we know, Bronny James does not have a child, nor is he close to having one any time soon. But, he is 21, so it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility that, if James were to play as many as four more NBA seasons, he could become a father at some point during that span — and make LeBron a grandfather.

    So for the purposes of speculation, there has only been one previous player to play in an NBA game while also having a grandchild: Robert Parish, who became a grandfather at age 42 and went on to play another NBA season.

  • Sixers’ LeBron James passes Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani for most jersey sales after switching teams

    Sixers’ LeBron James passes Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani for most jersey sales after switching teams

    LeBron James’ 76ers merch was selling out almost as soon as the 22-time NBA All-Star decided to sign a two-year, $8 million contract with the team.

    After James shocked the sports world, choosing the Sixers over Cleveland and Miami, the future Hall of Famer’s jersey has been the highest-selling of a player joining a new team across all sports — surpassing Shohei Ohtani’s move to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, according to Fanatics.

    The sports merchandise giant also said that within the first 24 hours after news broke, more James Sixers merchandise was sold than the first week after his announcement that he was joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. This should come as no surprise, since roughly two hours after his decision, all first editions of the No. 23 jersey were sold out on the Fanatics website. The company also is selling a signed James trading card by Topps (which it acquired in 2022) and plans to release other items.

    Mitchell & Ness, which is another part of Fanatics’ portfolio, declined to give hard sales numbers on James merch.

    “However, outside of recent marquee events in our Philly market, the launch of the LeBron Witness T-shirt and all Sixers gear was one of our strongest single-day retail performances, exceeding internal expectations compared to event-driven activations like the 250th celebration, FIFA, and MLB All-Star,” said Dexter Childs, Mitchell & Ness’ manager for cultural marketing and partnerships.

    Mitchell & Ness said Thursday that its black T-shirt featuring James and a Sixers logo was back in stock and that it would be dropping more merch next week.

    Fanatics is owned by Michael Rubin, a Lafayette Hill native who previously was part-owner of the Sixers.

    Since Friday, James merchandise has accounted for eight of the top 10 selling products across all sports throughout the Fanatics network of sites, which includes NBAStore.com, SixersShop.com, and Fanatics.com.

    Inquirer staff writer Emily Bloch contributed to this article.

  • Rich Paul explains the Tyrese Maxey asterisk and how the Sixers learned LeBron James’ decision

    Rich Paul explains the Tyrese Maxey asterisk and how the Sixers learned LeBron James’ decision

    The Sixers’ leaders found out that they landed LeBron James in a group text.

    The team’s ownership, front office, and Klutch Sports client Tyrese Maxey received a four-word message from Rich Paul, Klutch CEO and James’ agent.

    “Congrats,” the text said. “Sixers it is.”

    “I didn’t have time to text everybody,” Paul said on the Game Over podcast. “I had to put them all in a group chat.”

    With LeBron James joining the Sixers, NBC Sports Philadelphia looks to staff up

    Maxey, who occasionally works out with James during the summer and is one of Klutch Sports’ key clients, played a big role in the decision. During an earlier podcast episode, in which Paul broke down potential destinations for James, he put a star next to Maxey’s name.

    “Maxey led the charge on the Sixers,” Paul said. “He was starred on there because, number one, the Sixers went through a change. It became Tyrese Maxey’s team. It’s still Tyrese Maxey’s team.

    “Additionally, there was a star beside Tyrese’s name because, the fact that I represent Tyrese, I’ve been around him for seven years now, we talk all the time. LeBron has spent time with him. I know that that’s a positive, based on the type of person.”

    When assessing potential landing spots, James and Paul broke down numerous teams and tried to identify the potential issues with each spot. Maxey’s demeanor ultimately helped the Sixers earn much more consideration.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey (right) played a key role in luring James to Philly.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Paul said that Anthony Davis, who played with James on the Lakers, was an example of the type of personality that meshes well with James. Davis was unconcerned about taking the spotlight and stayed focused on his family and on basketball.

    “Same thing with Tyrese, I know that it’s a positive because he’s been around; they work out together,” Paul said. “He’s embracing the fact that, ‘Hey, if we can land this guy, I understand what comes with it, and I’m comfortable in my own skin and by the way, I want to win. I want the best chance of winning.’”

    James met with Cleveland brass in Akron, Ohio, over the summer before signing, ESPN insider Shams Charania said. While many perceived Cleveland to be the favorite going in — so much so that Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey told ESPN that his neighbors got mad at him for “taking” James — Paul said far more teams were under consideration than he discussed publicly.

    “We never really heard from the Sixers, because the Sixers never really thought there was even a chance,” Paul said. Once Jaylen Brown was traded to Philadelphia, his conversations with James about the Sixers took a total 180.

    Draymond Green is right about VJ Edgecombe. But he couldn’t be more wrong about LeBron James.

    Paul also told ESPN that he thinks the move could end with James playing for longer than just his two-year contract.

    “I think Philadelphia’s going to energize him,” Paul told ESPN. “Maybe we get two [seasons]. Maybe we get four.”

    But despite all the hype around James’ signing, Paul still doesn’t believe this makes the Sixers frontrunners for an NBA title.

    “The Sixers aren’t favorites to win it all,” Paul said. “I don’t think they are the best team in the league.”

  • How LeBron James could impact Philadelphia’s economy, according to local experts

    How LeBron James could impact Philadelphia’s economy, according to local experts

    LeBron James is set to make $8 million over two years with his move to the Philadelphia 76ers. But how much money will the city’s economy get out of the deal?

    “It’s hard to precisely quantify, sitting here today, what that exact number is going to be,” said Ethan Conner-Ross of Econsult Solutions Inc., a Philadelphia-based economics policy consulting firm.

    Of course there’s James’ own money as a high-earning professional coming into the region — including any local taxes he’d pay, and the money he would spend to rent or buy a place in the Philly region, though rumors suggest he might commute from New York.

    The greater economic impact depends on how many consumer dollars come into the city that wouldn’t have without James joining the Sixers.

    “The level of interest in the team, and then ultimately the success of the team, could definitely play out in more economic activity in a few different ways,” including short- and long-term outcomes, Conner-Ross said.

    History provides some idea of how this athlete could financially benefit the city.

    A 2017 Harvard study found that James’ presence in Cleveland and Miami was tied to an increase in the number of food and beverage businesses within a mile of the arenas in those cities and a boost in employment at those establishments.

    Moody’s Analytics economist Matt Colyar says James’ presence won’t increase housing prices in the area or lower the unemployment rate, but if the team performs well and ends up playing more playoff games, that could fill up restaurants, bars, and hotels with Sixers fans on additional days.

    “All that is serious dollars,” Colyar said, “but not the kind of thing that makes us revisit our forecast for Philadelphia’s long-term trajectory.”

    Where will money be spent?

    In the short-term, James’ move could mean more ticket sales and jerseys bought, Conner-Ross said. It likely means more media and more fans coming to town for games.

    Early signs suggest this is already happening. Fanatics, the sports apparel company, sold out of some LeBron James Sixers jerseys within hours of the announcement Friday that he would join the team. Preseason ticket prices have risen as well, 6abc Action News reported.

    LeBron James Sixers jerseys are already selling out on Fanatics — but more merch is on the way

    How much money stays in Philadelphia will be a “tourism story,” Conner-Ross said. Hotels, restaurants, and bars near the arena or downtown could benefit.

    Some of the money spent by locals on James-related experiences and merch may have been spent locally anyway, Conner-Ross said. That could still be positive for the city, he said.

    A billboard welcome sign for new Sixers LeBron James along Packer Avenue in South Philadelphia on July 24.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    “Philadelphia entertainment activities are not the only things competing for those dollars,” he said. “These folks have the ability to spend their entertainment dollars at the Shore or going to New York, or what have you.”

    If “they’re excited about the Sixers and spend more in town, it’s probably a net positive,” Conner-Ross said.

    Boosting Philly’s reputation

    Some of the James effect — like more media exposure and nationally televised games for the Sixers — will make money for non-Philly beneficiaries.

    “Those aren’t dollars that are going to support public parks in Philadelphia,” Colyar said.

    But there could be a reputational gain, Conner-Ross said. Hosting the World Cup, the All-Star Game, and other events have helped Philadelphia be seen in a positive light, he noted, and James could similarly contribute to the city’s image.

    “Philadelphia is … competing with other East Coast cities, other places in the country, in the world for residents, for visitors, for businesses, and that reputation really does matter,” Conner-Ross said.

    That kind of influence can have financial consequences, even if it’s hard to measure in exact dollars.

    LeBron James could live in NYC while playing for Philly. He wouldn’t be the first Sixer to do it.

    International soccer star Lionel Messi, for example, helped raise Miami’s profile in the soccer world as well as attract tourism, and the Wall Street Journal says some have estimated that his presence on Inter Miami has generated billions of dollars for the city.

    To be sure, Messi’s and James’ situations are like apples and oranges — or soccer balls and basketballs — in part because they’re playing out in different cities.

    In any case, the influence of a star like James could have a trickle-down effect.

    People aren’t “going to necessarily point to LeBron James and say, ‘Now I have to live there,’” Conner-Ross said. But “it affects their perception of Philadelphia as a place that people choose.”

  • LeBron likes Beethoven. Now there’s a playlist for that.

    LeBron likes Beethoven. Now there’s a playlist for that.

    He likes his cookies chocolate chip, and his wine Oregon pinot noir.

    And when it comes to music, LeBron James has a thing for Beethoven.

    In fact, the Sixers’ new No. 23 has had a bit of a first-hand experience with classical music. He once took some quick instruction from Curtis Institute of Music alum Lang Lang before the two broke into a four-hand duet — brief, random, and (intentionally) atonal.

    Lang Lang called the light-hearted 2014 collaboration a “piano dunk.”

    Beethoven has a particular role in Jame’s routine, he explained in an interview with The Shop. He gets to games hours early and goes to the weight room, where he listens to hip-hop.

    “And then when I leave the weight room, I gotta calm down and that’s why I’m listening to, like, more like old school jazz or I listen to a lot of, like, Beethoven,” he said on the talk show in 2022. “I like classical music, too.”

    Taking its cue from James’ classical leanings, WRTI-FM (90.1) has quickly assembled some music especially for him.

    “We thought we would create something Philadelphia-specific that we could put out as his new pregame playlist as the jazz and classical station here,” said WRTI classical program director Zev Kane.

    Jazz cuts to make the list include “Smilin’ Billy Suite: Part II” by South Philadelphia’s Heath Brothers and Philadelphia organist Shirley Scott in “Soul Shoutin’.”

    On the classical side: Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, because of its place as “a dazzling showcase of energy, elegance, and the unmistakable Philadelphia Sound,” the playlist text says.

    Marian Anderson in “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” is included because, well, she’s Marian Anderson and this is Philadelphia.

    The Barber Violin Concerto is on the list, since the third movement’s “breathless finale takes off with the speed of a full-court chase-down block.”

    Kane says he believes there are characteristics shared by music and sports that could act as an on-ramp into music for classical newbies.

    “I think playing music at an extremely high level and playing sports at that level — I think there are parallels: the need to train mind and body, the practice, the repetition, the heat of the moment, the debate over greatness, and the thrill of convening to see that spectacle together.”

  • With LeBron James joining the Sixers, NBC Sports Philadelphia looks to staff up

    With LeBron James joining the Sixers, NBC Sports Philadelphia looks to staff up

    Like everyone else, Sixers announcer Alaa Abdelnaby was shocked when news broke LeBron James was coming to Philadelphia.

    Now he’s settling into the reality of calling games featuring the future Hall of Famer, who passed up a return to Cleveland to sign a two-year deal with the Sixers.

    “I don’t think it was a farewell swan song he was looking for,” Abdelnaby said. “He’s still looking to win.”

    It’s a wild swing for Abdelnaby, who is entering his 11th season calling Sixers games. His was hired in the middle of “The Process” and Philly lost 72 games during his first season as a color analyst. Now the team is coming off an exciting playoff upset of the Boston Celtics and added two superstars in James and Jaylen Brown.

    “In Philadelphia we’re not used to having nice things,” Abdelnaby joked. “All eyes are going to be on you. I think everybody has to pick up their game a little bit.”

    LeBron James chose Philly over Cleveland, Miami, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    That’s true for the network as well. Alexandra Matcham, the vice president of content for NBC Sports Philadelphia, said it was budgeting in hopes of staffing up for the season.

    “If you get a generational talent on your team, it could easily become a situation where the people that work for us are burnt out by December, and you don’t want that,” Matcham said. “You need extra help.”

    That’s a welcome change in an era where regional sports networks like NBC Sports Philadelphia have been hit hard by cord cutting. How things shape up remains unclear, but Matcham said there are several possibilities.

    “It’d be helpful if somebody who’s followed and covered him were on our staff,” Matcham said. “Maybe we add people like that.”

    For years, NBC Sports Philadelphia and its predecessor, Comcast SportsNet, turned to reporters like Serena Winters and Taryn Hatcher for Sixers broadcasts. The network is weighing whether to add a third voice alongside Abdelnaby and play-by-play announcer Kate Scott, but the role wouldn’t be confined to baseline updates.

    “As I’m talking to my colleagues, I’m not even calling it a reporter role because I feel like it’s going to give them a stereotype I don’t necessarily mean,” Matcham said.

    “I think you need a voice on the court where Alaa and Kate can’t be to give us insight, do pre- and postgame interviews, analysis, all of that,” Matcham added. “It’s a very hard job to do.”

    A lot more national TV exposure for the Sixers

    NBC Sports Philadelphia announcers Kate Scott and Alaa Abdelnaby will be in the spotlight this season. Steven M. Falk / Staff Photographer

    While the NBA hasn’t released its 2026-27 schedule, Matcham expects NBC Sports Philadelphia to air fewer Sixers games.

    The network, which has broadcast Sixers games since 1997, is guaranteed at least 67 games this season as part of its deal with the NBA. It’s widely expected the league will take 15 Sixers games — the most allowed under their current TV deal — and put them in exclusive national windows on ABC, NBC, and Amazon’s Prime Video.

    “LeBron’s arrival in Philadelphia instantly becomes one of the biggest stories in sports and adds even more star power and intrigue to an already loaded NBA schedule,” said Justin Byczek, NBC’s executive vice president of programming and rights management. “His move elevates some of the league’s most historic rivalries, including highly anticipated battles with the defending NBA Champion New York Knicks.”

    Another 19 games are expected to air nationally and on NBC Sports Philadelphia as side-by-sides on Peacock, ESPN, and NBA TV. That’s 34 national games for the Sixers, compared to just 14 when the schedule was announced last season.

    Under the NBA’s current media rights contract, every NBA team is guaranteed at least two national broadcasts. Only the most popular teams land 34, the max allowed under the 11-year, $76 billion TV deal.

    It’s a great outcome for the NBA. The Lakers remain relevant with Luka Dončić, while James’ decision to join the Sixers will juice interest in matchups against the Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, and Miami Heat, who were spurned by LeBron but landed Giannis Antetokounmpo. There’s also the Sixers-Celtics rivalry, already heightened by Philly trading for Jaylen Brown.

    “Christmas Day and all the top-level NBA nights, you’re going to see the Sixers,” said Jon Lewis, a TV ratings expert who runs the Sports Media Watch website. “Plus the national networks will have LeBron on the East Coast to showcase in that 8 o’clock window. That’s primetime, after all.”

    What remains unclear is what impact James will have on NBC Sports Philadelphia’s viewership numbers. Last season, the network averaged 86,000 viewers per game, according to Nielsen numbers obtained by The Inquirer. That was a 25% increase compared to the 2024-25 season, when the Sixers lost 58 games and missed the playoffs.

    Lewis said he would expect local ratings to go up in Philly if the 41-year-old stays healthy and the Sixers are big-time contenders. But he also noted just one Lakers game was among the 30 most-watched NBA games last season

    “I would set expectations higher,” Lewis said, “just not overwhelmingly high for where he is at this point.”

    The interest will also carry over to the Sixers three preseason games, beginning with their Oct. 8 matchup on the road against the Brooklyn Nets. Historically NBC Sports Philadelphia hasn’t covered those road preseason games, but that could change with James on the team.

    “It’s the first preseason game with LeBron in a Sixers jersey,” Abdelnaby said. “So if our bosses were to say, ‘Listen, we’re covering that,’ I wouldn’t be surprised.”

    NBC Sports Philadelphia is also looking to create more content to meet the high level of interest James will draw. That includes everything from adding and upgrading cameras throughout the arena to tinkering with in-game graphics and production equipment.

    “Every game is going to mean something big,” Matcham said, “so everything we do has to show that off.”