Mike Gansey finished second to LeBron for Ohio Mr. Basketball. Now they’re together with 76ers

July 24, 2026

Long before Mike Gansey became president of basketball operations for the 76ers, he knew all about LeBron James. He had to compete against him.

Twenty-five years later, their basketball paths have crossed again in a fairly remarkable way.

James agreed Friday to join the 76ers on a two-year contract, choosing Philadelphia over a group of suitors that included the Cavaliers, Heat and Warriors.

Gansey’s longstanding relationship with James was among the connections Philadelphia had working in its favor, according to Joe Vardon, Tony Jones, Dan Woike and David Aldridge of The Athletic. And we’re talking longstanding.

Gansey was a star at Olmsted Falls High School outside Cleveland, averaging 27.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.3 steals as a senior in 2001. That was good enough to finish second in the voting for Ohio Mr. Basketball.

The winner? Some sophomore from Akron named LeBron James.

Gansey went on to play collegiately at St. Bonaventure and West Virginia before beginning a professional career that eventually led him into the Cavaliers’ front office. That’s where the two crossed paths again.

Gansey was part of Cleveland’s basketball operations department during James’ second stint with the Cavs, spending much of that time running their G League affiliate in Canton before being promoted to Cavaliers assistant general manager in 2017.

James left for the Lakers a year later. Gansey continued climbing the front-office ladder and eventually landed in Philadelphia, where he took over as president of basketball operations this offseason.

Then things got really interesting. Gansey pulled off the blockbuster trade that sent Paul George and draft capital to the Celtics for Jaylen Brown. According to The Athletic, Philadelphia considered itself something of a long shot for James before acquiring Brown.

Afterward, the Sixers believed they had something to sell, and apparently, James agreed.

Interestingly, Gansey reportedly didn’t make some massive personal recruiting pitch based on their shared history. The Athletic reports he didn’t hard-sell James at all.

Neither did Sixers managing partner Josh Harris, who spoke briefly with James at Fanatics Fest but apparently received no indication of which way LeBron was leaning.

Instead, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey did much of the direct recruiting, while Bob Myers publicly made Philadelphia’s case during an appearance on agent Rich Paul’s podcast. Ultimately, James concluded that a Sixers roster featuring Brown, Embiid, Maxey and VJ Edgecombe offered his best chance to win a fifth championship.

But the Gansey connection sure makes for one heck of a sidebar. In 2001, Gansey was one of the best high school basketball players in Ohio. He just happened to finish behind a kid who would become one of the greatest players ever.

A quarter-century later, Gansey helped build the team that convinced that same kid — now 41 years old and entering his 24th NBA season — to come to Philadelphia for what James says will be his final stop.

Basketball can be funny that way.