'Oh my gosh, here we go': How LeBron landed in Philadelphia
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- LeBron James deliberated for 24 days over five finalists — the 76ers, Cavaliers, Heat, Warriors, and Timberwolves — after agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports initially reached out to all 27 NBA teams.
- At Fanatics Fest on July 17, James inadvertently said "trust the process" — the Sixers' 13-year-old slogan — prompting a crowd eruption; a source close to James told ESPN it was an unconscious echo of a phrase he's used since at least November 2015.
- Rich Paul sent a group text reading "Congrats. Sixers it is." to 76ers stakeholders including governor Josh Harris, co-owner David Blitzer, HBSE president Bob Myers, executive VP Jameer Nelson, and Tyrese Maxey — plus Ohio-based Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey.
- Mike Gansey, who finished second to James for Ohio's Mr. Basketball in 2001 and spent over a decade in the Cavaliers' front office, led Philadelphia's recruitment after being hired in May to replace Daryl Morey; he learned of the deal while visiting family in the Midwest and walked his neighborhood for two hours taking calls.
- The LA Clippers offered James a one-season contract worth more than $20 million to stay near his Brentwood, California home, and the Boston Celtics — James' longtime rival — also expressed interest before trading Jaylen Brown (the 2024 Finals MVP) to a division rival on July 6.
- Bob Myers appeared on Rich Paul's "Game Over" podcast on July 8 to pitch Philadelphia as the most championship-ready roster, arguing a healthy Joel Embiid — who has played 96 games over three seasons since winning MVP in 2023 — beats the injury risk of any alternative destination.
- James's family — wife Savannah, son Bronny (21), and daughter Zhuri (11) — joined him in New York for Fanatics Fest, while 19-year-old Bryce stayed at the University of Arizona; Paul told ESPN that Savannah's approval was the key green light, saying "When you get the green light from Savannah, it means you're getting the green light from Zhuri."
Why it matters: The 76ers landed the league's all-time leading scorer via a recruitment run by Mike Gansey — an Ohio native who lost to James for 2001 Mr. Basketball, then spent a decade in Cleveland's front office before Philly hired him in May. The move pairs 41-year-old James with an injury-limited Embiid (96 games over three seasons) and Jaylen Brown (acquired from Boston on July 6) in a direct bid to end Philadelphia's 43-year championship drought.
