Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says he personally urged LeBron James to consider Philadelphia while James was a free agent, describing the city’s philanthropic opportunities as part of his appeal. TMZ reported Shapiro’s account from the campaign trail. Shapiro did not claim he determined the outcome: he credited the Sixers players and said James made the decision about his future.
The available account establishes that Shapiro made a pitch, not that it changed James’s mind. Politico reported that Shapiro spoke with James on July 16 and with James’s agent, Rich Paul, the following day at a lunch hosted by Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin. A person briefed on the effort told Politico that Shapiro continued pursuing the matter and learned on July 24 that James was coming to Philadelphia. The account does not establish what influence, if any, Shapiro’s outreach had on the decision.
Philanthropy is context, not proof of a Philadelphia plan
James has a documented philanthropic focus in Akron, Ohio. The LeBron James Family Foundation says it directs its work toward children in his hometown, and its account of the I PROMISE School says the school opened with Akron Public Schools in July 2018 to support at-risk students and families. Those records describe established Akron work; they do not confirm a Philadelphia program or partnership connected to Shapiro’s pitch.
Philadelphia has its own community commitments involving the 76ers, but they are separate from James’s recruitment. The City of Philadelphia said its arena agreement with the team includes a $50 million community benefits agreement for nearby communities and citywide investments in education and economic opportunity. Separately, the 76ers’ community initiatives page describes the Sixers Youth Foundation’s aims of supporting young people and strengthening communities. Neither source says James’s signing created or depends on a new local philanthropic effort.
Arena financing is another distinct part of the local backdrop. Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported on Jan. 10, 2025, that Shapiro reiterated the state would not fund the proposed Market East arena. That position concerned public funding for the venue, not Shapiro’s later conversations with James.
