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NBA Eastern Conference power rankings: LeBron moves Sixers behind Knicks in East race

Sports / Basketball /

LeBron James is headed to Philadelphia, and as a result, realistic title expectations are going with him. The Knicks claiming the 2026 NBA championship in an emphatic 4-1 gentleman’s sweep of the San Antonio Spurs sent the Eastern Conference into a frenzy. Teams feverishly shifted their rosters for a chance at the next title run, a shot at the...Read more

Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

David Murphy: A note to LeBron James' skeptics. And maybe to the Sixers'.

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — Anybody who doubts the existential significance of the news that broke late Friday morning only needed to walk through Center City as the world broke for lunch. It was the darnedest of things, borderline ridiculous, enough to make you cringe in real time at the thought of writing it down. You could keep a steady pace and never ...Read more

Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Grading Mike Gansey's transformational first offseason as Sixers president

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers became the talk of the sports world Friday, when LeBron James announced he would sign with the team to finish out his illustrious NBA career.

Some final roster tinkering still must occur before training camp begins in late September. The Sixers need to waive one player — likely Dalen Terry or Jabari Walker, who are ...Read more

John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Scenes from WNBA All-Star weekend: Commissioner talks league issues -- and rookie Olivia Miles gets some love

Sports / Basketball /

CHICAGO — This weekend marked a moment of celebration for the WNBA, which used All-Star festivities in Chicago as a greater platform to celebrate the league’s 30th season.

But this milestone also serves as a pivotal moment for league Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season. Under Engelbert, the...Read more

Roy Rochlin/Getty Images North America/TNS

Greg Cote: Cancel that intro. LeBron to Philly a stunning loss for Heat.

Sports / Basketball /

MIAMI — Nobody knew anything about LeBron James’ big decision except LeBron James and his closest inner circle. That proved true on Friday with a choice that stunned most everyone — especially the Miami Heat.

James, incredibly still a superstar at 41, set the NBA abuzz with the midday news he will sign a two-year, $8 million deal with the...Read more

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Julia Poe: Chicago throws stellar party for WNBA All-Star weekend -- but Sky left watching from sidelines

Sports / Basketball /

CHICAGO — There wasn’t really any doubt. But after the city spent the weekend hosting the WNBA All-Star Game for the second time in five years, it’s more clear than ever: The love of women’s basketball in Chicago is alive and well.

In every sense that matters, this weekend was a resounding success for both the WNBA and the city. The ...Read more

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/TNS

Troy Renck: LeBron James didn't pick the Nuggets. Will his decision finally clear up Peyton Watson's situation?

Sports / Basketball /

DENVER — LeBron James saw his shadow, leaving six more weeks of wonder.

On the 23rd day since leaving the Lakers — let’s be honest, they pushed him out the door — James made The Decision, Part 4.

He is signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Thank goodness. Our long national nightmare is over. NBA commissioner ...Read more

Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group/TNS

Dieter Kurtenbach: Bob Myers' heist of LeBron reminds us he was secret sauce to the Warriors' titles

Sports / Basketball /

The NBA is a league driven by superstar talent, but it’s ultimately run by elite operators.

And that’s why LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers is the single funniest outcome of this interminable and now embarrassing (for the Warriors) saga.

James signing a discounted two-year deal with the Sixers isn’t just a league-altering...Read more

John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/TNS

WNBA players want teams to nip hateful online rhetoric in the bud -- and fans to focus on the basketball

Sports / Basketball /

CHICAGO — When former President Barack Obama visited the WNBA All-Stars before practices Friday morning at the Obama Presidential Center, he made the rounds shaking hands with players. When he reached Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, he told her she was fantastic and then had some advice to offer.

“Don’t let all this nonsense get you ...Read more

Peter Tobia/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

LeBron James first played in Philly as a teen and had no interest in seeing the Liberty Bell

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James met Donovan McNabb, ordered a cheesesteak in South Philly, and stayed at a hotel just a few blocks from City Hall when he visited Philadelphia for the first time. But James — then a high school senior — had no interest in trekking to the Liberty Bell.

“LeBron was giving me a lot of flak about it,” said ...Read more

Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Philly fans and officials celebrate the reign of King James as the Sixers sign a superstar

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia is now officially under the rule of King James. And his newly minted subjects, it seems, couldn’t be happier.

LeBron James, the legendary NBA player and one of the most famous humans on the planet, is coming to Philly after having agreed to a two-year contract with the Sixers on Friday. The move, though one of ...Read more

John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Barack Obama surprises WNBA All-Stars ahead of practice in Chicago: 'I could not be a bigger fan'

Sports / Basketball /

CHICAGO — Former President Barack Obama surprised the players and coaches of the WNBA All-Star team Friday morning during a practice at the Obama Presidential Center.

The team — which includes stars like A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark — was scheduled to practice at the Home Court on the campus of the Obama Center ahead of Saturday’s ...Read more

Justin Casterline/Getty Images North America/TNS

Brianna Turner alleges Fever players were told to hush about sexual harassment case last year

Sports / Basketball /

WNBA veteran Brianna Turner said on social media this week that the Indiana Fever fired a male staff member for sexual harassment last season and encouraged players not to speak about the matter.

Turner, who played for Indiana last year and is now a member of the Las Vegas Aces, provided no other details about any alleged incidents. The Fever ...Read more

Harry How/Getty Images North America/TNS

How LeBron James landed in Philadelphia: Recapping free agency twists and turns that led to Sixers

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James is joining the 76ers.

A few weeks ago, most people would’ve laughed at those words. But 3 1/2 weeks after James, 41, informed the Lakers that he’d be playing his 24th NBA season elsewhere, it’s a reality. James announced Friday that he’s taking his talents to South Broad, and he’ll sign a two-year deal ...Read more

Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Dawn Staley elated that LeBron James is signing with the 76ers

Sports / Basketball /

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Dawn Staley might be the happiest basketball fan on the planet. And no, it’s not for any South Carolina-related reasons.

News broke Friday that NBA legend LeBron James is signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported.

Staley is a proud Philly native and wears her love for...Read more

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images North America/TNS

Dieter Kurtenbach: LeBron James' decision leaves Warriors with empty offseason

Sports / Basketball /

What are the Warriors going to do with the chalk that they’re keeping dry?

Because I know LeBron James won’t be tossing it into the air before his first home game at Chase Center.

He didn’t choose the Golden State Warriors.

What a shock.

Despite the Warriors operating with a pathetic sense of self-mortification — bending over ...Read more

Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

LeBron James signing adds an exclamation point to the Sixers' transformational summer

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James’ Friday morning news dump did not come via ESPN television special or Sports Illustrated open letter.

Or on his agent’s podcast, for that matter.

Instead, it was one tweet from ESPN newsbreaker Shams Charania. And another from James’ agency, Klutch Sports, with confirmation. Then a thread of tweets from ...Read more

Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

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

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — Fanatics is already sold out of some LeBron James Sixers jerseys.

About two hours after news broke that the superstar was coming to Philly, all first editions of the no. 23 jerseys were sold out on the Fanatics website.

The adult royal blue, white and red Swingman premium jerseys had been selling for $124.99, in line with the ...Read more

Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Mike Sielski: LeBron chose the hard, dramatic path when he picked the Sixers. Get ready for a wild ride, Philly.

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — If LeBron James is to be believed, if he was telling the truth when he took to Twitter/X late Friday morning to explain why he had decided to shock the basketball world and sign with the 76ers, if he was speaking from the heart and not merely trying to sell a new city and fan base on his choice, then this could be a red-letter ...Read more

Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS

LeBron James chooses the Philadelphia 76ers, will sign a two-year, $8 million deal

Sports / Basketball /

LOS ANGELES — After nearly a month of mulling his options, LeBron James announced in a social media post that he will sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year $8 million contract.

James, a small forward, will join guards Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe, forward Jaylen Brown and center Joel Embiid in a star-studded 76ers lineup. James’...Read more