NBA, Basketball Herren, USA Playoff - Pregame: Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: LeBron James of Lakers warms up before the NBA playoffs game 5 between Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena on April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu California United States. Editorial use only. Please get in touch for any other usage. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxTURxUSAxCANxUKxJPNxITAxFRAxAUSxESPxBELxKORxRSAxHKGxNZL Copyright: x2026xAnadoluxTayfunxCoskunx
NBA, Basketball Herren, USA Playoff - Pregame: Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: LeBron James of Lakers warms up before the NBA playoffs game 5 between Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena on April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California, United States. Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu California United States. Editorial use only. Please get in touch for any other usage. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxTURxUSAxCANxUKxJPNxITAxFRAxAUSxESPxBELxKORxRSAxHKGxNZL Copyright: x2026xAnadoluxTayfunxCoskunx
In June 2026, the Philadelphia 76ers' VJ Edgecombe claimed that LeBron James was his basketball GOAT. So, a month later, when the 4x champion signed with the 76ers and spoke to him, Edgecombe couldn't stop geeking over his new teammate.
Edgecombe has been a long-term LeBron fan. He has previously maintained that the 4x MVP's longevity makes him the basketball GOAT. Now that they are teammates, the Sixers young star had to contain his excitement during a FaceTime call.
"I was in disbelief, but I had to act cool. I had to act like I'd been there before," he said in an interview with Ovetime at the ABCD Basketball Camp on Thursday, Aug. 6. "I'm on the phone all cool and stuff. My headphones on, I'm playing the game."
February 5, 2026, Los Angeles, California, USA: VJ Edgecombe 77 and Tyrese Maxey 0 of the Philadelphia 76ers during their regular season NBA, Basketball Herren, USA game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday February 5, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Lakers defeat 76ers, 119-115. ARIANA RUIZ/PI Los Angeles USA - ZUMAp124 20260205_zaa_p124_045 Copyright: xArianaxRuizx
February 5, 2026, Los Angeles, California, USA: VJ Edgecombe 77 and Tyrese Maxey 0 of the Philadelphia 76ers during their regular season NBA, Basketball Herren, USA game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday February 5, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Lakers defeat 76ers, 119-115. ARIANA RUIZ/PI Los Angeles USA - ZUMAp124 20260205_zaa_p124_045 Copyright: xArianaxRuizx
The Sixers, with a loaded roster, need to make massive adjustments for the upcoming season. It will require sacrifices from every player in the starting lineup. Reverence for LeBron from a young star could eventually work in the Sixers' favor.
"Had to act all cool, but it’s really Bron. I was really geeking. I ain’t gone lie," Edgecombe added in the Overtime interview.
For someone who grew up idolizing a player, sharing the court with him is a surreal experience in every shape or form.
But the news of LeBron signing with the 76ers reached Edgecombe a little later. Part of the reason? Tyrese Maxey kept him in the dark.
VJ Edgecombe reveals Tyrese Maxey hid LeBron James' decision about 76ers
One of the names directly involved in recruiting LeBron was Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers star and teammate Joel Embiid played a role in convincing James to sign with the Sixers.
Edgecombe said that he kept asking Maxey about LeBron's decision, but the latter kept him in the dark.
"I kept calling Tyrese, and I was like, 'Are we getting Bron?' Tyrese was like, 'Bro, I don't know. I don't think so,'" Edgecombe told Chiney Ogwumike on ESPN. "But he knew the whole time. But he ain't want to tell me."
Maxey is good friends with the 4x NBA champion, and they share the same agent. He had previously revealed that it didn't take a lot of convincing to get James to sign with the Sixers.
Edgecombe revealed that he found out about the trade when he was practicing. He couldn't believe the news and had to double-check Shams Charania's tweet.
LeBron is the player that Edgecombe grew up playing. He wasn't even born (2005) when James started his NBA career (2003).
The Sixers' young star has proved that his game has a very high ceiling. Playing alongside arguably the greatest mind in basketball history will work a lot in his favor.
Read more at Air Jordan Chronicles!
Written by
Nandjee Ranjan
Edited by
Kaamna Dwivedi