Eight years ago, Brett Brown famously declared the Philadelphia 76ers were going “star hunting.” Now, finally, the biggest game in town, LeBron James, has officially landed in the City of Brotherly Love. This isn’t just a big signing, folks, it’s the culmination of a vision Brown had for the franchise way back when, and it’s about to light up the league.
The Hunt for the King: A Long Time Coming
Back in June 2018, after a solid 52-30 season, Brett Brown, who was then both the coach and interim general manager, knew what the Sixers needed. He wanted another marquee player, a true superstar, to pair with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. A month before that, he even hinted at who he was eyeing: LeBron James himself. Imagine that! LeBron, fresh off his second run with the Cavaliers, was a free agent. But, as we all know, Brown and the Sixers missed out that time. LeBron opted to sign with the Lakers, leaving Philly fans to wonder what could have been. Brown, who had taken the Sixers through some wild times, including a brutal 10-72 finish in 2015-16 during “The Process,” got fired after the ’19-20 season. He went back to his “Spurs life,” eventually becoming a senior consultant, traveling often but still finding time to catch his son, Sam, play at Davidson.
Brown’s Take: This Sixers Squad Is Legit
But now, all these years later, LeBron is actually *here* in Philly. It’s wild! Brett Brown, speaking on the phone from his family drive to Ventnor, NJ, on Tuesday night, sounded genuinely pumped. He thinks it’s “fantastic for the city” and called it a massive “endorsement” that LeBron chose the Sixers, especially for the players and Coach Nick Nurse. Brown highlighted the addition of Jaylen Brown via trade, too. He believes the Sixers have a team now that’s “as good as anybody in the league.” That’s high praise from a guy who’s seen it all in the NBA. Brown’s right, you always need health and luck in this league, but man, putting that kind of talent on the floor is a serious statement. You could hear the excitement in his voice, even as it trailed off.
“And you know what?” Brown added, “Down deep, I’m really happy for Joel.” This acquisition, he hinted, is “an opportunity, maybe the last” for Embiid. That tells you everything you need to know about the stakes. The Sixers just went all-in, and they’ve got a shot at something truly special. Get ready, Philadelphia. This is going to be a wild ride!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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