The City of Bron-erly Love has welcomed a new superstar.
The basketball world was holding their breath all summer until Friday, July 24 when LeBron James announced that he is joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
The four-time NBA champion and league's all-time leading scorer was reportedly deciding betweenPhiladelphia, joining Stephen Curry on the Golden State Warriors, a return to the Miami Heat or a comeback to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Besides the sports world expressing their excitement, Philadelphia rejoiced at the news. The future Hall of Famer will join former NBA MVP Joel Embiid and 2024 NBA Finals champion Jaylen Brown, who was shockingly traded from the Boston Celtics earlier in the month.
from LeBron James joining the 76ers
Fans also had fun imagining James on a favorite Philadelphia-based sitcom and comparing him to another beloved figure from the city.
Here's the best pop culture reactions to James signing with the 76ers:
Philadelphia music artists are hyped LeBron James is a Sixer
While Philadelphia might be overshadowed by Los Angeles or New York in the music scene, it still has a strong stable of influential artists. Questlove posted a series of Instagram stories welcoming LeBron James. Meek Mill, Tierra Whack and Lil Dicky were also among those who celebrated the 22-time All-Star's announcement that he was going to play in their city.
James Poyser of The Roots had maybe the best response of the day when he made a Threads post saying, "LeJawn James!!!!"
Philly on tilt 👑👑👑👑👑👑
— MeekMill (@MeekMill) July 24, 2026
Tierra Whack reacts to the LeBron James news in a very Tierra Whack way via an IG story.
— Victoria Hernandez (@LadyViii) July 24, 2026
If you haven’t listened to the Philadelphia artist’s “WHACK'S MUSEUM” mixtape yet, you’re sleeping! pic.twitter.com/a0JkxEPbv3
View on Threads
The people want LeBron James on 'Abbott Elementary'
Quinta Brunson's sitcom"Abbott Elementary" is set in Philadelphia and has become part of the city's pop culture DNA. The award-winning show has seen cameos from Bradley Cooper, the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty and Philadelphia Eagles stars Jalen Hurts, Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham. Fans want LeBron to be next.
Brunson herself showed excitement at the NBA's all-time leading scorer joining her hometown team. She posted a series of Instagram stories with James' famous "Can't believe this my life" meme, a picture of them together with the caption "My goat" and a sly emoji in response to a fan who asked if the basketball superstar would appear on the show.
Quinta Brunson is hyped for LeBron to be in Philly.
— Victoria Hernandez (@LadyViii) July 24, 2026
“Abbott Elementary” cameo coming soon??
Here’s her IG stories pic.twitter.com/Qyvu5hTRav
The "LeBron visits Abbott Elementary" episode is going to be great.
— one dozen rats at a keyboard (@PanasonicDX4500) July 24, 2026
LeBron and Zhuri gotta have a guest starring role on Abbott Elementary next season
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) July 24, 2026
i know Quinta Brunson’s pen just flew into her hand like Thor’s hammer 😭😭 https://t.co/FCHtScVdJy
— sitcom crave (@sitcomcrave) July 24, 2026
Deep down he’s just trying to secure a cameo on Abbot Elementary https://t.co/N6eoUmiO5E
— Daniel Céspedes (@_DanielCespedes) July 24, 2026
Lebron gonna be on Abbot Elementary let me start catching up now
— Reggie Saxx (@ReggiSaxx) July 24, 2026
LeBron James is the 'reverse Fresh Prince'
In Akron, Ohio born and raised, on the playground is where he spent most of his days.
Several people on social media pointed out that LeBron James joining the Philadelphia 76ers is a "reverse fresh prince." In opposite order of Will Smith's popular '90s comedy, the NBA superstar went from Los Angeles to Philadelphia.
X user bobcattheUNC posted the final scene of the showwhere the Philadelphia-bred actor stands alone in the Bel Air living room after the Banks Family moved to the East Coast and suggested James is doing a similar move to his son Bronny. James was influential in getting the Los Angeles Lakers to draft his son.
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LeBron literally doing the reverse fresh prince # pic.twitter.com/XM0HVMnxr0
— The Informer (@therealinformer) July 24, 2026
Bron left bronny in la like a reverse fresh prince pic.twitter.com/feXknlDqFf
— Uncle Baby Bobcat (@bobcattheUNC) July 24, 2026
Crazy Fresh Prince reboot -- dad abandons his son to pursue his hoops dreams, in Philadelphia, leaving son behind with his family in Bel-Air https://t.co/tLwf2qTw19
— Evan Sporer (@ev_sporer) July 24, 2026
WTF, he pulled the reverse Fresh Prince
— Ingenuous Firebrand 🐆🇺🇸 (@ING2Firebrand) July 24, 2026
The Stale King https://t.co/FAxSN1jHOf
LeBron did the opposite of Fresh Prince pic.twitter.com/t3oYl4m7oK
— Darius Brown (@BrownDarius94) July 24, 2026
🎵 IIIIIIIn South Philadelphia, bought and paid,
— Aelfred The Great (@aelfred_D) July 24, 2026
At Xfinity arena spent most of my days,
Aging out, maxin, relaxin all cool
And all shootin some bball like a damn fool
When a couple of kids who were up to no good
Said “Dad why’d ya leave us in Hollywood” 🎵 https://t.co/Ce6HIyuSJT
Philadelphia welcomes LeBron James
People all across Philadelphia were welcoming. Pat's King of Steaks posted on their Instagram story and their rival Geno's Steaks made an elaborate post. Ice cream iconFrankie Two Scoops, the Theatre of Living Arts and the Philadelphia International Airport also expressed their appreciation.
The governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, evendeclared a LeBron James Day!
Now arriving at PHL: 👑 pic.twitter.com/RrTJGZgOE2
— PHLAirport (@PHLAirport) July 24, 2026
LEBRON IS COMING TO PHILLY.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) July 24, 2026
By the power vested in me as the Governor of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a die-hard Sixers fan... I hereby proclaim today to be LEBRON JAMES DAY.
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, @KingJames. pic.twitter.com/JHsNkCFyyN
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James on 'Abbott Elementary?' Reactions to superstar joining 76ers
