LeBron James mania is reaching new heights in Philadelphia after the 76ers pulled off the largest comeback in team history on Oct. 22.
The Sixers’ first home game of the season didn’t get off to the best start, but the historic turnaround had fans celebrating inside Xfinity Mobile Arena and across the city.
Now, with two more home games scheduled for the weekend, the excitement surrounding James and the Sixers is only growing.
Frank Attwood, of the 4th and Jawn Podcast, was at Thursday night’s game and witnessed the energy firsthand.
“I saw a lot of people just screaming and hollering. It’s the second game of the season. I mean you just hear the kid parody, ‘LeBron Jaaaaaames’ or the song, ‘LeBron, LeBron, Lebron.’ It’s madness,” Attwood said.
Philadelphia embraces ‘LeJawn James’
It’s only the second game of the season, but James is already becoming a part of Philadelphia’s identity for some fans.
A new mural honoring the basketball star in the city’s Fishtown neighborhood has been attracting visitors every day. Fans are also showing their support through Philadelphia-inspired merchandise, including sweatshirts featuring the nickname “LeJawn” and T-shirts that read “LeJawn James.”
For fan Lilli Resto, James’ connection to Philadelphia goes beyond his first two games with the Sixers.
“He was Philly prior I think. We needed him and he needed us too. He really needed us I can tell,” Resto said.
The excitement was especially noticeable when James scored his first basket at home, sending fans to their feet.
Dasith Markalanda, another Sixers fan, described the atmosphere as people left the arena.
“Leaving the stadium, everyone was yelling, hype, going crazy. It was awesome, never seen anything like it,” Markalanda said.
Sixers tickets still available for under $100
The excitement now shifts to the weekend, when the Sixers will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, Oct. 25, and the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, Oct. 26, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philadelphia.
For now, tickets remain relatively affordable.
According to ticket resale sites such as StubHub, Saturday’s matchup against the Bucks is more expensive than Sunday’s game against the Pistons. However, fans can still find tickets for less than $100 for either game.
With two more home games on the schedule, fans will have another chance to see James in a Sixers uniform. And with excitement building around the team, ticket prices could continue to climb.
The question now is how long those ticket prices will remain affordable as LeBron James mania continues to grow.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.
