Topps Beats NBA Reporters to Announce LeBron James’ Move to 76ers
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Topps Trading Cards disclosed LeBron James’ decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers before any major sports outlet, posting an image of a James Sixers card on Instagram at 11:30 a.m. ET Friday.
The post, created in collaboration with the four-time NBA champion, showed a one-of-one autographed card. A source told the New York Post the physical card has not yet been signed; the signature was digitally added to illustrate how it will appear.
ESPN insider Shams Charania reported the agreement roughly one minute after the Topps upload. Multiple league sources said the NBA was caught off guard by the unconventional rollout.
The marketing tie-in stems from Fanatics’ 2022 purchase of Topps and James’ exclusive trading-card partnership with Fanatics. The forward appeared at Fanatics Fest in New York the previous weekend, where he used the phrase “trust the process” during a live edition of his “Mind The Game” podcast while discussing priorities for his next team.
After weeks of speculation monitored by basketball reporters and fans, the summer’s biggest NBA scoop belonged to a trading-card company.
Source: Hoops Wire
