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Who would have thought that one day an NBA General Manager could say not only did he sign LeBron James to his team, but that he also knew him in high school?
Philadelphia 76ers GM Mike Gansey can now bestow himself with that honor, as a viral photo shows Gansey and James standing side by side for a high school basketball picture for a Cleveland newspaper in 2001.
While never sharing the court, Gansey and James were once considered two of Ohio’s top-rated high school basketball players, finishing both first and second in the state’s Mr. Basketball voting.
MORE: Updated 2026-27 NBA Eastern Conference odds after LeBron James-76ers signing
Gansey, who finished second behind the future NBA all-time leading scorer, was an all-state star at Olmstead Falls, still holding the record for all-time points at 1,099.
He would go on to play at the collegiate level for St. Bonaventure and West Virginia.
As for LeBron, fans are familiar with his journey beginning at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, where he was deemed “The Chosen One” by Sports Illustrated.
LeBron James has a few laughs with St. Vincent-St. Mary teammate Brandon Weems as the two play a video game before the Irish’s game against Mentor on Jan. 14, 2003, at the University of Akron’s Rhodes Arena.
Time would go by before the two former Ohio stars would cross paths in the NBA, as they would not develop a professional relationship until James’ second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, when Gansey worked in the front office.
Now, as the 76ers’ General Manager, Gansey has revamped the roster within the first two months of his tenure, trading for Jaylen Brown and making what is quite possibly the biggest NBA offseason signing with LeBron James.
If an NBA title comes to fruition for the 76ers during James’ time with the team, fans may be ready to consider Gansey among the top General Managers in the team’s history.
Continue reading...
Philadelphia 76ers GM Mike Gansey can now bestow himself with that honor, as a viral photo shows Gansey and James standing side by side for a high school basketball picture for a Cleveland newspaper in 2001.
While never sharing the court, Gansey and James were once considered two of Ohio’s top-rated high school basketball players, finishing both first and second in the state’s Mr. Basketball voting.
MORE: Updated 2026-27 NBA Eastern Conference odds after LeBron James-76ers signing
Gansey, who finished second behind the future NBA all-time leading scorer, was an all-state star at Olmstead Falls, still holding the record for all-time points at 1,099.
He would go on to play at the collegiate level for St. Bonaventure and West Virginia.
As for LeBron, fans are familiar with his journey beginning at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, where he was deemed “The Chosen One” by Sports Illustrated.
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LeBron James has a few laughs with St. Vincent-St. Mary teammate Brandon Weems as the two play a video game before the Irish’s game against Mentor on Jan. 14, 2003, at the University of Akron’s Rhodes Arena.
Time would go by before the two former Ohio stars would cross paths in the NBA, as they would not develop a professional relationship until James’ second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, when Gansey worked in the front office.
Now, as the 76ers’ General Manager, Gansey has revamped the roster within the first two months of his tenure, trading for Jaylen Brown and making what is quite possibly the biggest NBA offseason signing with LeBron James.
If an NBA title comes to fruition for the 76ers during James’ time with the team, fans may be ready to consider Gansey among the top General Managers in the team’s history.
Continue reading...
