Anfernee Simons didn’t hide his disbelief when LeBron James chose Philadelphia.
On the Cousins podcast with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, Simons described finding out James was headed to the 76ers as one of those moments that felt too wild to be real. He said he had seen the chatter building around the move, but he still needed proof before buying in.
Anfernee Simons on LeBron James joining Philly:
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) July 31, 2026
“I mean obviously you see everything that’s going on like in the media and stuff so you see like that you know, LeBron could potentially go there and you know, to me I gotta see it to believe it. So, I forgot what I was doing. I… pic.twitter.com/QoBhz2xqWq
“I mean obviously you see everything that’s going on like in the media and stuff so you see like that you know, LeBron could potentially go there and you know, to me I gotta see it to believe it. So, I forgot what I was doing.
I might have been working out or actually I woke up. I just woke up and I saw the news and I was like, “Dang, this is crazy,” Simons said.
James made his decision official by signing a two-year deal with the 76ers that includes a player option in the second year. The move sends him into what will be his 24th and possibly 25th NBA season, a run that stands as a historic record and one that will be tough for future players to match.
For Simons, the arrival of James adds a new layer to his first season in Philadelphia. He is entering the ninth year of his career and joins the 76ers after splitting last season between the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls, who acquired him from Boston in a trade for Nikola Vucevic. He was on a contract year before reaching free agency and landing in Philadelphia.
Simons also has his own role in mind. He wants to be a key player off the bench for the 76ers, and James’ presence only raises the stakes for a team that already has big expectations.
Philadelphia went 45-37 last season and finished seventh in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers then pulled off a 3-1 series comeback against the Boston Celtics before being swept by the New York Knicks in the East Semifinals.
Now the focus turns to a season built around championship hopes. With a starting five that can strike fear into opponents when healthy, Philadelphia is looking at a real chance to chase its first NBA title since 1983.
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