LeBron James is officially a Philadelphia 76er, signing a two-year, $8 million contract on Friday, July 24. This isn’t just another superstar moving teams; this is the NBA’s all-time scorer, a four-time NBA champion, making a massive jump, and the reactions are already priceless. Nobody’s more hyped than new teammate VJ Edgecombe, who practically broke the internet with his celebratory Instagram story.
Edgecombe’s Meme Game Is Strong After LeBron’s Big Move
76ers guard VJ Edgecombe looked absolutely stoked, posting a photo on his Instagram stories right after the news dropped. He’s holding his hand to his head, looking up at the camera with this huge smile, mirroring LeBron’s own famous “Smiling through it all! Can’t believe this my life” meme from way back in 2018. That original pool photo instantly became legendary, and even LeBron’s son, Bryce, posted his own version in 2024. Edgecombe, who just snagged the Rising Stars Challenge MVP award at this year’s NBA All-Star festivities, just channeled that energy perfectly. Talk about knowing how to welcome a GOAT!
LeBron Chooses Philly, Shakes Up the East
LeBron was reportedly deciding between Philadelphia, a return to the Miami Heat, or his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. He’s now joining an already stacked 76ers squad that includes the 2022-2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and the 2024 NBA Finals champion Jaylen Brown. Remember that shocking trade earlier this month? Brown came over from the Boston Celtics for Paul George and four draft picks. This 76ers team just got terrifyingly good. It’s no wonder Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro declared it LeBron James Day, and Philadelphia legends like Dawn Staley and Eagles running back Saquon Barkley offered up huge welcomes.
The 2026-2027 NBA schedule isn’t out yet, but get ready: the 76ers open preseason with a game against the Celtics on Saturday, October 10. This team, which made it to the conference semifinals last season before getting swept by the eventual champion New York Knicks, just added the biggest piece imaginable. You know that Celtics game is going to be electric. This squad looks like they mean business from day one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply