Why are the 76ers trending?

Published 23 October 2026 at 1:15 · 10 sources · 1000+ searches today

The Philadelphia 76ers are trending because LeBron James made his debut for the team in a 106–100 win over the New York Knicks, then became the subject of a political row. President Donald Trump criticised James on 22 October 2026 after video appeared to show him moving and practising shooting motions during the US national anthem. As of 23 October 2026, James had not publicly responded.

Key facts

20 October 2026: 76ers beat the Knicks 106–100 at Madison Square Garden
LeBron James made his 24th NBA season debut for Philadelphia
22 October 2026: Donald Trump posted his criticism of James
Trump called James a “TOTAL DISGRACE” and demanded an apology

What happened

The story began before the Philadelphia 76ers’ season opener against the New York Knicks on 20 October 2026, when video showed LeBron James moving, stretching and mimicking a golf swing while the US national anthem was being performed.

Most players stood still, but James appeared to continue warm-up movements. The footage spread widely, and the episode quickly became a talking point beyond basketball.

Why Trump got involved

On 22 October 2026, President Donald Trump criticised James online, saying he “disrespects our Country” and calling him a “TOTAL DISGRACE”. He also demanded an apology to American service members and others who died for the flag.

James was making his competitive debut for Philadelphia after joining the team for his record 24th NBA season, which gave the episode even more attention.

The basketball context

The 76ers reportedly beat the Knicks 106–100 at Madison Square Garden, so James’s first game for Philadelphia ended in a win. That result helped push the story further into UK and international sports coverage.

Reports differ slightly on the wording of the incident, but the most consistent account places the game on 20 October and Trump’s statement on 22 October 2026. As of 23 October 2026, James had not publicly responded.

Why it is being searched in the UK

The topic is trending in the UK because it combines a major NBA debut, a viral anthem clip and a fresh intervention from the US president. That mix has drawn attention from the BBC and other UK outlets.

People searching for “76ers” are usually looking for what happened to James, whether the team won, and why Trump is involved in the story.

Frequently asked

Why are the 76ers trending in the UK today?

They are trending because LeBron James’s Philadelphia debut became linked to a viral video from the national anthem and Donald Trump’s criticism on 22 October 2026.

Did the 76ers beat the Knicks?

Yes. The 76ers reportedly beat the New York Knicks 106–100 at Madison Square Garden on 20 October 2026.

What did Donald Trump say about LeBron James?

Trump said James “disrespects our Country”, called him a “TOTAL DISGRACE” and demanded an apology to American service members and others who died for the flag.

Has LeBron James responded to Trump?

As of the reported coverage on 22 October 2026, James had not publicly responded to Trump’s remarks.

Sources

Researched automatically from live news and written by Simpledot's AI; facts are limited to what the sources above report as of the published time. Spot an error? Tell us.