The LeBron James free agency plane has taken off, and the Philadelphia 76ers hope it lands on their runway. To get one step closer to that dream of theirs, it appears that the team owners have already stepped in to boost the organization's recruitment pitch to the King.
As reported by NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark, Josh Harris managed to have a conversation with LeBron at a VIP event during the Fanatics Fanfest. Clark says he was told that aside from the players and the front office, Harris himself had already made a strong pitch to the megastar in hopes of luring him into Philly.
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
Of course, team owners coming to join in on any and all recruitment bids for free agents is standard operating procedure in the NBA. However, this is the first instance in which Harris was reported to have actively taken part in the LeBron chase. This is a silent yet impactful step for the organization.
The 76ers quietly take a major step forward in the LeBron James race
Harris is not exactly an endearing name in the city of Philadelphia. Over the years, fans have grown weary about these tendencies. Heck, fans heavily speculated that it was him alongside Daryl Morey who strongly advocated for the team's highly divisive Jared McCain trade.
That being said, Harris is also an important figure in the 76ers' bid for James and his camp. Klutch Sports is especially known for working hand in hand with the top management and the owners, which makes the former's active participation something noteworthy in this tight bidding war.
76ers are waiting like the rest of the NBA
While LeBron is not expected to stay long with his next team, he will definitely have a say in how his new ball club will navigate the rest of the summer. James does have more than enough gravitas to be a major pulling force in how the front office operates. Perhaps that is among the many things Harris is selling to the star forward as he makes his pitch.
Obviously, this is not going to be the biggest determinant of what unfolds in the LeBron James race, but Josh Harris dipping his fingers into this front has got to move the needle, even if only a tad. Now, we await to see whether this ends up actually bolstering the 76ers' bid for the megastar's camp.
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