AI News Desk (The Washington Times)
LeBron James announced Friday that he’s signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million deal, and the internet did not waste any time weighing in.
Mr. James broke the news himself in a lengthy statement posted to X, revealing he had seriously considered retirement before deciding he still had enough left in the tank for one more title run. He wrote that this was “his last decision,” adding that he wasn’t chasing money or family ties at this stage of his career, only the chance to win it all again.
New teammate Jaylen Brown, whom the 76ers acquired from Boston earlier this month, needed just one hashtag to sum up his feelings, posting “#throwtheballup” within minutes of the news breaking, according to a live blog tracking the reaction. Fellow 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey took a louder approach, hopping on Instagram to shout about the signing, while rookie VJ Edgecombe paid homage to his new teammate by recreating Mr. James’ viral “can’t believe this is my life” pose from an earlier social post.
Center Joel Embiid, whose old social media posts pining for Mr. James resurfaced Friday, finally got his wish nearly a decade after first hinting at it online.
Athletes outside the 76ers organization piled on as well. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley welcomed Mr. James to the city on social media and joked about getting him out on the golf course. NBA veteran Andre Drummond posted a simple, stunned reaction, while Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki joked that the news would make an upcoming Penn State football tailgate rowdier than usual.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro turned to social media for an official-sounding proclamation of his own, declaring Friday “LeBron James Day” across the state. Basketball Hall of Famer Dawn Staley also shared her excitement online.
Not everyone found out through a screen. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark got the news live, mid-answer, during a press conference ahead of WNBA All-Star weekend — just after she had pitched Mr. James on signing with the Indiana Pacers instead. Her stunned, on-camera reaction quickly made the rounds across social platforms alongside the wave of posts from players and executives.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith summed up the mood of much of the sports media world, saying on air that he was simply shocked by the outcome. One unnamed NBA executive who had rated Philadelphia the fourth-most-likely destination for Mr. James before Friday was left looking prescient once the deal was announced.
Mr. James, 41, will enter his 24th NBA season with a chance to make history: No player has ever won a championship with four different franchises, and a title with Philadelphia would give him that distinction after previous stops with the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers.
This article, constructed with the assistance of artificial intelligence, was made available to WMAL via The Washington Times.
