The "Billboard War" has officially started

The National Basketball Association, just as many other things that come from the United States of America, has a series of more or less famous traditions that are very characteristic and that can look a bit bizarre to the less accustomed. One of these, for example, is the habit to pursue the free agents with massive billboards - big commercial posters - spread in the entire city. And well… as you can see, Philadelphia is already thinking big for summer 2018.

In the City of Brotherly Love, in fact, there have been some billboards to temps no one less than LeBron James, that many people think will use his player option at the end of the season to evaluate a (possible) future away from Cleveland. The billboards haven’t been made by the 76ers, though, but from a private company, that tried to push the Chosen One towards Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons’ direction, two players that King James always showed respect for. It’s unlikely that the “complete the process” and “Philly wants LeBron” writings will be enough to convince The King, but at least he said he was flattered.

On the other hand, the city of Cleveland wasn’t really happy about it because, even if it knows that a possible second divorce is far from impossible, doesn’t want to face the truth just yet. And it wanted to make it clear, always through a billboard, placed in downtown Cleveland by “The 9” hotel. The manifesto sees the “Hey Philly” writing placed above a crown - of course, LeBron’s symbol - that curiously look like… A middle finger. A quite clear message from the city of Cleveland, that still calls itself “The Land of the King”.

It’s really too soon to talk about the 2018 Free Agency and all its possible implications for the NBA. But, at least, it looks like the “Billboard War” has officially started and you can be sure that more will come in the next weeks and months. King isn’t dead yet, long live the King.