LeBron James has played a game with 250 players. Among them, 26 are former Sixers. 

From Jason Kapono, Tony Battie, and Kevin Ollie during LeBron’s rookie season all the way to Shake Milton and Jalen Hood-Schifino on the 24-25 Lakers, it’s a trip down memory lane.

In total, 11 played with LeBron in Cleveland, 2 in Miami, and 14 in Los Angeles. Danny Green is the only player to count for two teams, which is why it adds to 27 instances where a former Sixer was LeBron’s teammate. 

KCP is the only current Sixer to play with LeBron. He may not be the only one depending on how the Sixers use their final roster spot once the season begins. 

It is an underwhelming group of players, but there certainly are some names. I decided to place the players into seven buckets. Within a bucket, players may be grouped together for brevity sake. 

Every now and then throughout I share a stat or two. 

Played with Allen Iverson 

Eric Snow

He is the lone player on this list to make the Finals with the Sixers and LeBron. Snow played the same number of total games with LeBron James as Austin Reaves did with 284. He also played the most games with LeBron among this list of players. Snow is the ideal adequate point guard from the early 2000s. Never too flashy. He made second team All-Defense in 2004, which is also the only time he recorded a triple-double.

The Sixers traded a second round pick to the Sonics for Snow in 1998, which may be one of the best trades they made during this timeframe. And in 2004 he was traded to Cleveland for Kevin Ollie (more on him soon) and Kedrick Brown. 

Snow missed one game during a five-year stretch from 02-03 to 06-07. Only Bruce Bowen played more regular season games than Snow. 

Kyle Korver

Famously traded from the Nets to the Sixers for a copy machine (there is more context behind the trade as the cash the Nets received went to a copy machine among other stuff but legends exist for a reason.) The Sixers received a first and Gordan Giricek from Utah for Korver. That first ended up being part of a salary dump to clear a financial path for Philly to sign Elton Brand in 2008. Giricek played 12 games for the Sixers.

Korver made two Finals with LeBron, but they were no match for the super Warriors. It was pretty sweet to watch LeBron and Korver play together, though. The best season of Korver’s career was in Atlanta. He shot almost 50 percent from three as he made his only All-Star Game. Korver has the highest 3-point percentage among players who made at least 200 threes in a season.

Larry Hughes

A very cool player. Vivid memories of him coming off the bench as a rookie and second year player before being traded to the Warriors in a three-team trade that sent Toni Kukoč to Philadelphia. (The Croatian was traded the following year to Atlanta as part of the Dikembe Mutombo package.) But whenever Sixer fans see the name Larry Hughes it harps back to the 1998 draft. Hughes went eighth. Dirk Nowitzki went ninth. Paul Pierce went 10th. 

Eventually Hughes signed a contract with Cleveland. He played 165 games with LeBron. He was traded to the Bulls as part of a three-team deal that brought Ben Wallace, Joe Smith (more on him soon), Wally Szczerbiak, and Delonte West to the Cavs. 

And then there is this commercial from 2000:

Larry Hughes is one of 15 players to record at least seven steals for at least three teams. This is an instance where finding the stat took much longer than simply plugging numbers into Stathead, but here is the initial list of every player to record at least seven steals in a game. Hughes did so with Cleveland, Washington, and Golden State. Other players are: Chris Webber, Thaddeus Young, Brevin Knight, Kendall Gill, Ron Harper, Dudley Bradley, Doc Rivers, Metta World Peace, Eddie Jones, Randy Smith, Gus Williams, Mookie Blaylock, Chris Paul, Michael Ray Richardson, and Alvin Robertson. 

Jason Kapono

Kapono was Cleveland’s second round draft pick in 2003, which means he is part of the best draft class in the history of the Cavaliers. He lasted a year in Cleveland because Charlotte drafted him in the expansion draft the following year. (LeBron is so old he played when the NBA had 29 teams.) His Sixers tenure wasn’t great. He had some moments during his first season, but struggled to establish any role during his final year.

For the uninitiated, 50 (percent from the field), 40 (percent from three), 90 (percent from the line) is the default for a truly special shooting season. Kapono never reached those numbers, but his 06-07 season the year after the Heat won the title was special. Only Steve Kerr has played more minutes for a player to shoot at least 49 percent from the field, 50 percent from three, and 89 percent from the line. 

Kevin Ollie

Ollie had three separate stints with the Sixers. He bounced around with several teams before being part of the aforementioned Eric Snow trade. Half of his career starts were as a Sixer.

Six players in history have scored fewer than 2500 points while playing more than 10,200 minutes. Oddly enough four (Ollie, Manute Bol, Harvey Catchings, and Charles Jones) played for the Sixers at some point. 

Joe Smith

This guy’s name has been invoked many times within the past year because of the Kawhi Leonard/Aspiration saga. Smith was a Sixer immediately before the Timberwolves gave him a small contract that became the impetus for the scandal. I knew Smith as a Sixer during his second stint, however, since he joined Andre Miller in the Allen Iverson swap.

Smith is one of nine first overall picks LeBron has played a game alongside. Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard, Andrew Bogut, Greg Oden, Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Deandre Ayton are the others.  

Jerry Stackhouse and Scott Williams 

I have little memories of these two playing together on the Sixers. Stackhouse was traded to the Pistons (Aaron McKie and Theo Ratliff) when I was in kindergarten, while Williams who was later traded with Tim Thomas for Tyrone Hill. Stackhouse only played seven games with LeBron. Miami had to waive him in order to sign Erick Dampier because Udonis Haslem suffered an injury early in the season. Williams only averaged eight minutes a game across 19 games during LeBron’s second season in the NBA. 

Stackhouse’s best career game was 57 points while playing for Detroit. Only Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson have scored more points while being at least a plus-30 in the game. 

The Most Important Player on This List (Pertaining to the Current Sixers)

Mike Muscala 

Like there was any doubt. It is tongue and cheek but hanging his Thunder jersey in the rafters isn’t that far fetched. Tyrese Maxey would not be here if it weren’t for Muscala. It has nothing to do with LeBron, but everything to do with the Sixers. 

In a funny twist Muscala became a Laker in a befuddling way when Magic Johnson decided to trade Ivica Zubac and Michael Beasley to the Clippers for him. Although he is only a Clipper because the Sixers sent him there as part of the Tobias Harris trade.

Long live Muscala, forever.

The Great Tank of 2025

Colin Castleton, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Lonnie Walker IV

It makes all the sense in the world to group these together. Once over the past nine years the Sixers failed to make the postseason. Two years ago Nick Nurse rolled out lineups including these three multiple times as the tank of 2025 took shape. The Sixers had won too many games up until mid February that they had to go into overdrive for any chance at keeping its protected pick. Somehow, despite Dallas AND San Antonio jumping in the top 2, the Sixers kept it. 

Sixers record with each player:

1-5 with Castleton

1-12 with Hood-Schifino

3-17 with Walker IV.

Thanks for your service. 

The Process 

Jarvis Varnado, JaVale McGee, and Christian Wood 

The Process Sixers stick together. 

Jarvis Varnado and LeBron James never lost a game they played together (6-0). Meanwhile, the Sixers lost the first 14 games Varnado played for them in 2014. McGee lasted six games after the Sixers acquired him for a first that eventually became Furkan Korkmaz. Wood only played 17 games as a Sixer before becoming a Hornet.

The Sixers combined record in games Varnado, McGee, and Wood played: 5-41

Four wins are Varnado. Wood went winless. 

The leading scorer for the lone McGee win was Nerlens Noel with 14.

The Process was a wonderful time. 

Back-Up Bigs 

Andre Drummond, Mo Bamba, Montrezl Harrell, DeAndre Jordan, and Dwight Howard 

What a collection. These five bounced between coasts in the 2020s. Andre Drummond was exciting during his first Sixers stint. Dwight Howard had his moments. DeAndre Jordan started two postseason games even though Paul Reed was on the roster when Embiid broke his face in Toronto. Mo Bamba scored 18 points on Christmas night against the Heat.

This group is a reminder of how Daryl Morey viewed roster spots, honestly. Bamba added a different dimension, but as you see with the others Morey had a type. 

(Mostly) Forgotten 

George Hill and Tony Battie 

Hill is the player who missed the free throw in Game 1 of the 2018 Finals. You know the one that ended in JR Smith’s hands. Hill could have made it a one-point advantage for Cleveland with seconds left. Instead it stayed tied, which JR did not realize. Hill played poorly for the Sixers during his brief stint. He might be the most disappointing in-season transaction the Sixers have had given how things ended. 

Battie played zero minutes during Philly’s surprise second round appearance in 2012. He started one game during LeBron’s rookie season, but it was one of the three games LeBron missed.

(Mostly) Beloved 

Shake Milton

I wore a Shake Milton NBA paint t-shirt to a Sixers playoff game. The best game of his career happened during the 19-20 season against his future head coach, Doc Rivers. Shake was electric during a Sunday matinee. Seriously. Only 20 players have reached at least 35 points, seven made threes, and five assists while shooting 70 percent from the field since the 19-20 season. Two additional memories stick out when considering Shake: his game winner against the Spurs in the bubble immediately following the game after he and Embiid had to be separated by teammates and his 14-point performance in Game 2 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Hawks.

Patrick Beverley 

I tend to remember where I was when any transaction happens. I was opening a new checking account when the Eagles dealt Sam Bradford, paving the way for Carson Wentz to be the starter. The Sixers had done nothing as they waited out the James Harden saga. My wife and I were at a brewery during a downpour. Then we saw Past Lives. Why am I sharing this? No clue.

Beverley had fun moments with the Sixers, including special performances against the Celtics and Nuggets. He ended up being traded at the deadline in an oddly shocking move.

Danny Green

The Sixers are so cursed that the “wherever he goes they win” guy could not work. Green won a title with the Spurs, the Raptors, and the Lakers before joining the Sixers. In both seasons with the Sixers he suffered a season-ending injury. The Hawks one specifically stands out. I don’t think they lose that series if Green is healthy.

Danny Green had the record for most threes in a Finals series when he made 27 of them in the classic 2013 match-up. Stephen Curry has since surpassed that total twice in 2016 and 2022, but nobody else has. Green’s shooting splits during that Finals were comical. He made 55 percent of his threes, while shooting a shade under 22 percent from two.

Donyell Marshall

Marshall and Lonnie Walker IV both went to Reading High School, but several decades apart as a cool aside. Marshall tied Kobe Bryant’s then NBA record 12 threes while playing for the Raptors. I remember watching that game while at my friend Corey’s house because the Sixers were the opponent. Somehow, despite the sheer volume of three point attempts today, only eight players have made at least 12 threes in a NBA game. Marshall’s shared record stood for 11 years before Steph Curry sank a baker’s dozen in 2016. Klay Thompson surpassed that total in 2018 with 14.

Marshall signed a free agent contract with both the Cavaliers and Sixers. He wanted to end his career in Philadelphia since Reading is so close.

There will always be this memory from Marshall, which is honestly why he is included here and not in the forgotten section:

Thanks for going on the journey. The next “That Stat” post will appear next week.

It is almost that time! 

Feel swell, friends