LeBron James has proven difficult to recruit in free agency, but those who cross paths with him are not missing their chance to try to sell him on joining their preferred team. That even includes at least one notable politician.
James was having dinner Wednesday night at the same New York restaurant as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Shapiro used the chance meeting to try to sell James on joining the Philadelphia 76ers, according to Peter Hamby of Puck News.
New @PuckNews
— Peter Hamby (@PeterHamby) July 17, 2026
Josh Shapiro was dining with the Clintons in NYC this week at ZZ’s. They ran into LeBron — and Shapiro tried to lobby him on coming to the Sixers
More in tonight’s In The Room (and thanks to @DylanByers for the guest spot) https://t.co/fY03jtjr4G pic.twitter.com/E0OcDe5yDr
The Sixers are unquestionably making a concerted effort to sign James. Sixers owner Josh Harris also had a “brief, friendly conversation” with James when the two crossed paths at Fanatics Fest on Friday, per John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
A source says Sixers owner Josh Harris was able to have a brief, friendly conversation with LeBron James yesterday at a VIP event at Fanatics Fest in New York
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) July 18, 2026
I’m told Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and owner Josh Harris have let LeBron know they would love to have him… pic.twitter.com/tvJJDXc478
While James has largely secluded himself and is not taking any meetings with teams, there are certainly some who have a way to contact him and have made use of that connection. For the Sixers, Tyrese Maxey is said to be leading the charge, though the team’s entire core has been in on the recruiting job.
The 76ers are thought to be one of the teams James is most focused on as he nears his decision. Some even thought he had dropped a few hints that they would be his choice, though that is not actually the case.
