The Philadelphia 76ers keep getting the same reminder in a different form: whatever they’re paying LeBron James, it’s a steal.
That point comes up every time a veteran lands a contract that looks light for the player involved. But a look beyond the NBA makes the Sixers’ situation feel even more striking, because some of the biggest salaries overseas are now climbing past James’ number.
According to Eurohoops, six EuroLeague players are projected to earn more than LeBron James in 2026-2027. Two of those names have ties to Philadelphia, and both are worth remembering for very different reasons.
Vasilije Micic is the first. The 32-year-old guard was drafted by the Sixers in 2014 with the No. 52 pick, though he never played a game for them.
Before that, he had a pro run with Mega Vizura from 2010 to 2014. Philadelphia stashed him, then later moved his draft rights in the 2020 draft-night trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the deal that also included Al Horford and Danny Green.
Micic’s NBA stint never really took off. He appeared in a little more than 100 games over two seasons, spending time with the Thunder, Charlotte Hornets and Phoenix Suns. Since 2025, he has been with Hapoel Tel Aviv, and he is reportedly set to make $5.6 million in the upcoming season.
The other former Sixer on the list is much more recent in the minds of Philadelphia fans. Guerschon Yabusele had a 70-game run with the 76ers after years away from the league following his release from the Boston Celtics, and that stretch looked like it might help him rebuild his NBA value.
Instead, Yabusele’s next stop was New York. He signed with the Knicks last year and played 41 games before being moved to the Chicago Bulls at the trade deadline. He left the door open for another NBA opportunity, but he is now headed to Greece to play for Panathinaikos, where he will earn $5 million for the year.
The rest of the players on Eurohoops’ list are Kendrick Nunn, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Sasha Vezenkov and Sylvain Francisco.
For the Sixers, the comparison lands hard because LeBron James remains on a two-year deal, with the second season a player option. Even if he picks up a $4.0 million salary after making $3.8 million, that number still comes in below what some of the top overseas deals are paying.
In Other News...
Sixers Put Dominick Barlow In A Spot He May Not Escape
Dominick Barlows path with the 76ers is getting harder to read by the day, and not just because he is still trying to carve out a niche as a power forward. Philadelphias latest frontcourt additions have crowded the picture, with LeBron James and Dean Wade joining a mix that now gives the team far more options than it had before. For a player like Barlow, that means every minute on the floor has to be earned, and the margin for error in training camp and beyond is suddenly much smaller.
Barlow has been working to sharpen his three-point shot, knowing that a reliable outside touch could help him fit into different lineups and give him a better chance to stick as a backup center. The problem is that improvement alone may not be enough in a rotation that has already been squeezed by the roster changes. Philadelphia now has to sort out who fits where, and Barlow is left trying to prove he belongs in a role that may not be there for long if he cannot make himself indispensable. [Read more 🡒]
Tatum Just Added More Fuel To Sixers Celtics Tension
Jayson Tatum took a surprisingly warm tone toward Jaylen Brown during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, even with the Celtics having traded Tatum to the Philadelphia 76ers. Brown had already said he had not spoken to Tatum since the move, so the exchange only adds another layer to a situation that has quickly become one of the leagues more closely watched storylines.
For the Sixers, the trade has already sharpened the edge of the Boston matchup, and the timing only makes the next stretch more interesting. Media days and preseason games are coming, and every public comment from here on out figures to get sifted for meaning as the two sides keep circling each other. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers May Not Get The Brunson Break Fans Were Hoping For
Jalen Brunsons recovery appears to be moving in the direction the Knicks wanted, and that is not exactly the news Sixers fans were waiting for. The point guard is reportedly 80 to 85 percent recovered from wrist surgery and is expected to enter Knicks training camp without limitations, a sign that he should be close to his usual workload by the time the season gets going.
For Philadelphia, the timing matters because the two teams are set to see each other three times, including a preseason matchup, before the end of October. Brunson has already been a tough matchup for the Sixers in the playoffs, and he is anticipated to be in the lineup for the season opener on October 20 unless something changes, which means any hoped-for early-season break may be slipping away. [Read more 🡒]