President Donald Trump turned LeBron James’ stunning Philadelphia move into another round of their long-running feud.
The NBA legend had just confirmed he would sign with the 76ers and return for a 24th season when Trump was asked to settle the greatest-of-all-time debate. Trump picked Michael Jordan, then took a swipe at James.
“Michael Jordan’s a guy that’s a friend of mine, I’ve played golf with him,” Trump said.
“He’s a really good guy and I think LeBron is – maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump, I don’t know – but I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way.”
DOOCY: Where do you stand on LeBron versus Michael Jordan as the best ever?
TRUMP: Michael Jordan's a friend of mine, play golf with him. He's a really good guy. and I think LeBron is maybe he's a racist but maybe he doesn't like Trump. I only like people who like me. I would… pic.twitter.com/Jsu59wd751
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 24, 2026
The attack came as James, 41, was making one of the biggest decisions of his career after weighing whether to retire.
In a lengthy Friday statement on X, James wrote that he had nearly convinced himself last season was the end.
“I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn’t ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game.”
LeBron is taking his talents to Philly for his 24th season! Here is his full statement:
"I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn't ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that… https://t.co/Gwjf7QuCXw pic.twitter.com/tRdiwu3aAM
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 24, 2026
“I still truly love this game, and I have more to give. The last few weeks have really been special,” he added.
Philadelphia is getting James at a price far below his last salary. ESPN reported that he is set to sign a two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers after making nearly $53 million last season.
— Austin Krell (@NBAKrell) July 24, 2026
The 76ers will be the fourth team of James’ career. They also added Jaylen Brown earlier this month in a stunning trade with the Boston Celtics, making James the second major star to join Philadelphia this offseason.
James framed the move as his last basketball decision, not a money play.
“I’ve never been able to have no clue what to do and take real time to just think. I’ve had an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all out,” James wrote.
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“This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m 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.”
He then laid out why the 76ers became the choice. “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. Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!”
Trump’s reaction dragged the announcement back into a political fight that began years before James’ latest NBA stop.
James was already publicly against Trump in 2016, when he endorsed Hillary Clinton for president in an emotional Akron Beacon Journal op-ed.
The four-time NBA champion wrote about growing up in a single-parent home and argued that Clinton understood underprivileged children, praising her as a champion for kids alongside his “good friend” Barack Obama.
His attacks on Trump did not stay in campaign season. James later backed Democratic candidates, launched voting-rights initiatives around the country and branded Trump a “bum” in 2017.
That insult came after Trump went after Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry, who had said he would not accept an invitation to the White House.
James rushed to Curry’s defense and made the White House itself part of the attack.
“U bum, Steph Curry already said he ain’t going! So, therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!” James tweeted.
The public fight continued into 2018, when James appeared with fellow basketball star Kevin Durant and accused Trump of not caring about Americans.
“The number one job in America, the … person is someone who doesn’t understand the people, and really don’t give a f— about the people,” James said of Trump.
Champion raised what she called Trump’s “racist comments” in the same interview. It was conducted while Trump was under fire for referring to Haiti, El Salvador and African nations as “sh*thole countries.”
“It’s not even a surprise when he says something,” James said. “It’s, like, laughable; it’s laughable and it’s scary.”
James said athletes could still use their platforms to push back on what came from Trump.
“While we cannot change what comes out of that man’s mouth, we can continue to alert the people that watch us, that listen to us that this is not the way,” James said.
The White House feud later spilled into the NBA Finals, when Trump announced that both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors were preemptively banned from visiting the nation’s capital after that year’s championship series.
James brushed off the move by making the ring bigger than the invite. “Winning a championship is way bigger than getting invited to the White House, especially with him in it,” he commented at the time.
For Philadelphia, the James news immediately became a celebration.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, D, marked the signing with an official proclamation and leaned fully into his Sixers fandom.
“By the power vested in the me as the Governor of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a die-hard Sixers fan… I hereby proclaim today to be LEBRON JAMES DAY,” Shapiro wrote Friday on social media.
The celebration comes with a long wait attached. The 76ers have not won an NBA championship since 1983.