Before Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri vies of Oscar gold on Sunday, a different three billboards are making waves in the news cycle. This week, billboards started popping up in Cleveland with messages trying to convince LeBron James to join the Philadelphia 76ers next season.
With taglines that read "Complete The Process" and "#PhillyWantsLeBron," the three billboards were funded by a Philadelphia company called Power Home Remodeling. The whole idea played up the possibility that LeBron could opt out of his current deal with the Cavaliers this offseason and sign with a team like Philadelphia—joining a promising young core centered around Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
So, what does LeBron think of these signs? Are they a distraction for a player who would rather focus on the current season?
Apparently not. "You can say it's a distraction, it's not. Not a distraction," James told reporters on Tuesday. "It is actually very flattering that I'm sitting here at 33 and in my 15th year and teams or guys—I don't want to say teams because that becomes tampering—but people in their respective city want me to play for them. That's cool I think. That's dope."
Sounds like this was money well spent for Power Home Remodeling's CEO Asher Raphael if LeBron has already noticed. Located seven miles away from the Cavaliers' Quicken Loans Arena on I-480 in Cleveland, the trio of billboards appear to be inspired by the Oscar contender.
We're passionate about Philadelphia," Raphael explained of his decision to purchase the ads. "We have an amazing city, it's the best sports town and it's an awesome place to live. We think the best athletes should want to play here." He added, "LeBron is in the conversation of being the best player of all time," Raphael said. "We think if he comes to Philly, he gets a couple more championships."
