LeBron James to Philly: Sixers players react; Shapiro issues proclamation; Caitlin Clark stunned

Raymond Davis took the train into 30th Street Station to play basketball at Schuylkill River Park. Before leaving his home in Mount Airy, he put on his Tyrese Maxey to hoop in — not knowing LeBron James would sign with his favorite team shortly after.

“I didn't even know he was coming until I got on the train,” Davis said. “I was ready to cry on that jawn, bro. It’s so crazy. We getting the chip though, you know what I’m saying. This is the best our team ever looked and I’m just happy to be here. Happy for LeBron, been a LeBron fan since I was a young boul. It’s thorough.”

Davis met up with a few friends on the way to Schuylkill River Park. One of them, Christopher Gaines, is just as excited as Davis. Gaines is ready to write the day down in history books.

After LeBron James announced his decision, Lydia Victor and her sister bought a Whole Foods chantilly cake to celebrate. The Northeast Philly graphic designer and sports content creator had the bakery write “Trust the Process 23” in red frosting on top. She planned to cut it later Friday with her father, who went to college in Ohio and is the biggest LeBron fan, she said.

She said it almost didn’t matter if the James-led team wins a championship — though she was already panning to celebrate on Broad Street. The fact that James chose Philadelphia brought her more happiness than a championship (or potentially getting married or having kids) might. She likened the moment to Meredith Grey’s iconic monologue in the TV show Grey’s Anatomy imploring Derek Shephard to choose her. 

“It’s just the mindset that Philly isn’t always considered a big market and the national media usually counts us out when it comes to acquiring big name free agents,” she said. But this time, things were different. 

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

About two hours after the news broke, 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 price of similar jerseys for other Sixers stars. Youth jerseys had also been available to pre-order for $69.99.

Red and blue adult Fast Break jerseys, which are made of different material, were available to pre-order for $79.99 as of Friday afternoon. They were set to ship in early August.

Honeygrow, the Philly-founded fast casual food business, tried to lure LeBron James to the Sixers in the day leading up to the announcement.

On Thursday, the company known for its made-to-order stir-fries as well as salads posted on its Instagram what sounded like an enticing offer: Come to Philadelphia, and we’ll give you free Honeygrow food for life, the company touted.

“Thoughts on taking your talents to Broad Street?” the company said in the Instagram post. “We’ve got all the Heat you need.”

Philly’s other pro athletes are among the most excited about James coming to Philly, after big names like Bryce Harper and Cooper DeJean attempted to make their pitch on the All-Star red carpet.

Despite speculation that Jaylen Brown and James might have beef, after Brown said a few years ago that he didn’t believe James’ son Bronny was a pro, Brown was the first to post after the announcement.

Tyrese Maxey followed shortly after, posting a video of himself screaming in celebration at the gym.

A lot changed for the Sixers on Friday, including their title odds after LeBron James announced he'd be ending his free agency by signing with the Sixers.

Prior to James becoming a Sixer, they were listed as +2000 to win the NBA Finals, according to Sports Illustrated on July 20.

Philly is now up to +1000, the fourth favorite behind Oklahoma City Thunder (+260), the San Antonio Spurs (+260), and the New York Knicks (+900).

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that Friday would be known as LeBron James Day in posted a proclamation on X following the announcement that the famed player would be signing with the 76ers.

“Pennsylvania is honored to welcome LeBron James to our Commonwealth as he joins the Philadelphia 76ers for his best season yet,” the proclamation reads.

Shapiro highlighted James’s record-breaking NBA career and philanthropic endeavors throughout the proclamation as a reason to dedicate the day to him.

Shortly after news broke that LeBron James planned on signing a two-year deal with the Sixers, the future Hall of Famer took to social media to explain his most recent decision. Here's the full text:

"I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn't ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give. 

"The last few weeks have really been special. I’ve never been able to have no clue what to do and take real time to just think. I’ve had an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all out. This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? 

Steph Curry changed the way basketball was played and the way boys and girls around the world wanted to play it, and among the fraternity of NBA players themselves, Kobe Bryant was more respected and feared, for his preparation and cutthroat competitiveness. But LeBron James has been greater longer than any other player in the sport (with the possible exception of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, if you count his Lew Alcindor/UCLA years).

Set aside, if possible, the four NBA championships and the 10 Finals appearances and the league’s career scoring record and the three Olympic gold medals and the other records he has set. His choreographed announcement in 2010 that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat was the 21st century’s answer to the revelation that Kristin Shepard had pumped two bullets into J.R. Ewing’s belly. It changed everything about the power that elite players held over their respective teams because it showed elite players that they held power over their respective teams. Pro sports hasn’t been the same.

Finding an athlete comparable to James in popularity and influence is difficult enough, let alone one who arrived in Philadelphia during the middle stage or latter half of his career, after he had established his galactic superstardom. Wilt Chamberlain already had been a high school phenom here when the Warriors made him a territorial pick in the 1959 NBA draft. Julius Erving was the “Babe Ruth of basketball” — at least, that’s how Sixers general manager Pat Williams described him in trying to persuade owner Fitz Dixon to cough up the money to acquire Dr. J. But Erving had spent six years in the relative obscurity of the ABA; telling someone you had seen him play for the Virginia Squires or New York Nets, whether in person or on TV, was akin to claiming you had spotted a Sasquatch.

Point guard: Tyrese Maxey, Labaron Philon Jr.

Shooting guard: VJ Edgecombe, Anfernee Simons, Dalen Terry

Small forward: Jaylen Brown, Justin Edwards, Jabari Walker

By now you've probably seen the picture. It was taken in 2000, and was on the front page of the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s sports section. Ten high school basketball players from Northeast Ohio stood side by side, in their respective jerseys.

The group had been voted by coaches and athletics directors as the best players in the region. There was Maverick Carter and Chester Mason (“Chet the Jet”) toward the left. Brian Swift was closer to the middle, alongside Mike Patrick.

But what caught everyone's attention was to the far right: future Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, of Olmsted Falls High School, alongside future Hall of Famer LeBron James, of St. Vincent-St. Mary.