Sengele Tulante (288)
This summer, on July 24th, 2026, LeBron James announced his decision to come to the Philadelphia 76ers. For a city that last won an NBA championship in 1983, the arrival of arguably the most accomplished player in basketball history has created a new level of anticipation for the upcoming season.
LeBron, next to only Michael Jordan, is thought of as the GOAT (greatest of all time) when it comes to basketball. He has been playing for 23 seasons, has four championships, has won multiple MVPs, and is the all-time leading scorer in the NBA. So why choose Philadelphia?
In June, LeBron James announced that he was not going to return to the Lakers for the 26-27 season. This was a huge shock to fans as he was expected to finish his career as a Los Angeles Laker. He chose to come to Philly for some well-calculated reasons. The 76ers recently acquired Jalen Brown from the Celtics, a move that strengthened the team. LeBron also had a good relationship with Tyrese Maxey, and ultimately he wanted to help Joel Embiid win a championship. By doing so, LeBron would undeniably become the best player of all time.
LeBron James has been the main topic of conversation in Philadelphia this past August. But what do Central students think about the new face of their hometown team with the new season almost underway? Is LeBron’s move to the Sixers changing the way they see Philly sports? Are students who never usually follow basketball now starting to pay attention?
For some students, LeBron’s presence in Philly is a monumental event, like for Amelia Mathew (288), who said, “I grew up with everyone around me idolizing LeBron, so finally seeing him play for my team is honestly surreal.”
Other students aren’t paying much attention to the hype, but still feel its effects. Molly Okrent (288) explains, “I don’t keep up with basketball often, but now that LeBron is here my family and I are going to be tuning in more often.”
Knowing that LeBron is playing at the Xfinity Mobile Arena is one thing, but are Central students ever going to be able to see him in action? Ticket prices have skyrocketed for this season. An average ticket this season is around $300, whereas last season they could go for $60. Even a LeBron Sixers jersey at Dicks Sporting Goods will set you back $125. Watching him on TV is still free, and going to the parade if – or when – the Sixers win the championship won’t cost you anything either.
