{"id":832441,"date":"2026-07-30T01:37:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T01:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/832441\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T01:37:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T01:37:39","slug":"celtics-expressed-interest-in-lebron-james-in-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/832441\/","title":{"rendered":"Celtics \u2018expressed interest\u2019 in LeBron James in free agency"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoston Celtics\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t“The Boston Celtics, James’ consistent nemesis through the years, expressed interest, sources told ESPN.”<\/p>\n

\"Los
\n\tLeBron James will have plenty more battles with the Celtics during the 2026-27 season. AP Photo\/Katie Chin\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Conor Ryan<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJuly 29, 2026 | 5:37 PM\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

2 minutes to read<\/p>\n

The Celtics will have their hands full this season trying to slow down LeBron James and a stacked Philadelphia 76ers team that also acquired Jaylen Brown from Boston earlier this month.<\/p>\n

But, according to ESPN\u2019s Dave McMenamin<\/a>, the Celtics were among many teams interested in signing James this offseason after the NBA legend announced he was leaving the Lakers after eight years in Los Angeles.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat started with James\u2019 longtime friend and agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, having conversations with 27 teams, as he told ESPN, and then whittling them to a final five \u2014 the 76ers, Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves \u2014 ended with the veteran with the ball in his hands looking for the last shot to cap an already Hall of Fame career,\u201d McMenamin wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were surprising suitors along the way. The Boston Celtics, James\u2019 consistent nemesis through the years, expressed interest, sources told ESPN. The LA Clippers even discussed a lucrative one-season contract north of $20 million that would allow him to stay at his Brentwood, California, home, sources said. Just as surprising was the Celtics trading Jaylen Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, to a division rival July 6 and the Sixers suddenly grabbing James\u2019 attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

It should come as little surprise that the Celtics were among the many teams interested in bringing in a player like James, who, even at 41 years old, still averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game with the Lakers this past year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But, the chances of James landing in Boston felt slim, especially given James\u2019 reported sentiment about the Celtics after years of playoff clashes during his time with both the Cavaliers and Heat.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Boston would rank 30th on his list,\u201d ESPN\u2019s Brian Windhorst said of James earlier this month on his \u201cHoops Collective\u201d podcast.<\/a> \u201cI really, honestly do. He hates Boston.\u201d<\/p>\n

James ultimately decided to sign a two-year deal with a player\u2019s option with the Sixers for the veteran\u2019s minimum. The future Hall-of-Famer joined a Philly roster that already boasts Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a social media posting announcing his decision to join Philly at this stage of his career, James said that he wanted to prioritize championship contending to close out his legendary career.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my last decision,\u201d James wrote<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m not going for money. I\u2019m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Profile\t<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.<\/p>\n

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