Why 76ers fans believe the GM’s brother just leaked a big LeBron James plan originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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LeBron James officially closed the book on his Los Angeles Lakers chapter this week, with agent Rich Paul confirming to ESPN that James will not return to Los Angeles and will instead sign elsewhere for his unprecedented 24th NBA season.
Before the official goodbye, the Golden State Warriors emerged as the perceived frontrunners, reportedly pursuing the 41-year-old to reunite him with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, though any rumored package involving Anthony Davis, who is currently with the Washington Wizards, remains highly complex. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat remain in the mix as well.
But a throwback photo posted Wednesday has the Philadelphia 76ers fans convinced Philadelphia could be the real answer. Steven Gansey, brother of 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, shared an old high school all-star photo showing a teenage Mike standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a young LeBron James, both dressed in their respective high school jerseys alongside other top Ohio recruits.
The 76ers GM’s brother, Steven Gansey, just posted this photo 👀
Could LeBron James be heading to Philly…
via @SGAN30pic.twitter.com/Itlbe6Lpsz
— NBARetweet (@RTNBA) July 2, 2026
Mike Gansey finished runner-up to James for 2001 Ohio Mr. Basketball, and the two later worked in the same building during James’ second Cavaliers stint, when Gansey held front-office roles that grew into a general manager job in Cleveland. He has since become Philadelphia’s top basketball executive, and the timing of his brother’s post, paired with the Sixers’ active offseason, was enough to convince fans.
One fan wrote, “Bron in Philly with Brown and Embiid? That’s the best starting five in the East — maybe the league.”
Another added, “LeBron James to the 76ers would be tough.”
A third skeptical fan claimed, “It’s seems so and we’re just going to wait and see.”
A fourth simply wrote, “It’s happening let’s go.”
One user put a prediction on it, noting, “Wow. I think it’s 65/35.”
This excitement in Philly makes sense, especially since the team just had a massive week and landed Jaylen Brown. Adding James to a lineup that already features Brown and Joel Embiid would instantly make the 76ers the team to dominate in the Eastern Conference.
Still, it is important to separate internet hype from reality. Right now, nothing connects James to Philadelphia outside of his old Ohio friendship with Mike Gansey. The Warriors are still the heavy betting favorites to land him, and teams like Cleveland and Miami are still very much in the running.
So, whether Gansey’s high school connection actually turns into a real contract will depend entirely on what James and his agent decide to do next.
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