Are you still in disbelief? Have you asked yourself several times this weekend, “Is LeBron James really a 76er?”
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Yup, it wasn’t a dream. On Friday, the King announced that he was coming to Philadelphia on a two-year, $8 million contract — which he officially signed on Sunday — for his final stop in the NBA. What a way to enter the weekend.
James is coming here with the intention of winning a championship, and viewed the lineup of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and newly-acquired Jaylen Brown as his best chances of achieving that.
But of course, there were other factors in his decision, including money, family, and legacy. But why the Sixers instead of the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, or Miami Heat? The Inquirer’s DeAntae Prince gives us four reasons.
As much as this was James’ free-will decision to come here, we also have to give Mike Gansey his flowers. It’s been a heck of an offseason for the new president of basketball operations.
Because of him, the Sixers are now viewed as legitimate championship contenders.
Friday’s news had the whole city raving. From Gov. Josh Shapiro to fans playing basketball at Schuylkill River Park, the excitement over James’ decision was unreal.
— Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, [email protected].
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Never too late
Brian Keller didn’t know if he’d ever get to wear a baseball jersey again. After 10 years, two countries, and multiple surgeries — one of which he paid for out of pocket — Keller’s baseball future looked dim. But his decade-long journey led the 32-year-old to making his big league debut on Saturday.
And the Phillies kept Keller on the roster as they still try to figure out what to do with the fifth-starter spot. Maybe they’ll turn back to Andrew Painter, who had two solid starts this week for triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Meanwhile in South Philly, the Phillies’ snapped a four-game losing streak thanks to five RBIs from Bryson Stott and four from Alec Bohm. Scott Lauber provides a full recap.
What we’re…
đź‘• Seeing: Unauthorized LeBron James merchwasup for grabsoutside Citizens Bank Park and down the Shore this weekend.
🎧 Listening: To theGame Over podcast hosted by James’ agent and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, where he explained why James picked the Sixers.
🏀 Remembering: The first time James visited Philly was in 2002, then a national high school superstar playing at the Palestra.
🤔 Wondering: Fans gathered at Marsha’s to watch the WNBA All-Star Game. Will they become Philly fans when the team tips off here in 2030?
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Training camp guide
It was a significant offseason for the Eagles. First came Kevin Patullo’s firing. Now, 34-year-old Sean Mannion is Patullo’s replacement. There were also other positional coaching changes and notable player departures.
As we get ready for the first day of training camp on Tuesday, here’s a complete recap of all that’s happened since the Eagles lost their wild-card playoff game to the 49ers in January.
An unfulfilled promise
Jadin Aviles didn’t play basketball in front of a packed Palestra, but he did become a “street legend” in North Philadelphia. The community is now trying to keep his caring spirit alive.
On May 12, Aviles died after a pickup truck hit him while he was riding his moped in a bike lane on Aramingo Avenue. He had just turned 20. It is a devastating loss that friends and family have struggled to deal with.
As North Philadelphia celebrates his past, and mourns his unfulfilled promise, they continue to point to Aviles as proof that a life built on kindness and respect can be a life well-lived, no matter how it ends.
Looking to reset
The Union limped into MLS’ World Cup break with issues both on and off the field, having won just one game and mired in the drama of its head coach losing a locker room and its sporting director undergoing league-mandated sensitivity training.
Now it’s time for a reset. Union president Tim McDermott spoke to The Inquirer about what they plan to do with it.
And with his World Cup afterglow, Danley Jean Jacques has resumed his key role and was quietly effective in the Union’s back-to-back wins over New York and Seattle.
David Murphy’s take
In hindsight, James actions seem perfectly reasonable. This wasn’t attention-seeking behavior. It was the private torment of a man who was about to choose to move from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. But it is deeper than that.
The significance of James’ signing with the Sixers is that he had every reason not to, writes columnist David Murphy.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Gina Mizell, DeAntae Prince, David Murphy, Matt Breen, Scott Lauber, Jeff Neiburg, Alex Coffey, Conor Smith, Natie File, Nick Vadala, Jonathan Tannenwald, Maggie Prosser, and Kerith Gabriel.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Thanks for getting your morning started with me. We’ll be back in your inbox on Tuesday. — Bella
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