Quinyon Mitchell posts Cooper DeJean and LeBron James on his IG Story, reminding everyone about the great snub of January 2025

Quinyon Mitchell joined the long list of athletes acknowledging LeBron James coming to Philadelphia, and he did it in the most Eagles way imaginable by posting a photoshopped picture of his teammate Cooper DeJean in a full Sixers uniform standing right next to the King himself on Instagram Saturday morning.

Quinyon Mitchell posting Cooper DeJean and LeBron James on IG

Cooper DeJean has said for years that LeBron James is one of his favorite athletes of all time. He’s also a legitimate basketball freak who could probably walk onto an NBA roster and hold his own.

So on the surface, Mitchell posting Coop next to LeBron is partly an ode to DeJean’s hooping ability and partly just a fun way to acknowledge the biggest signing in Sixers history.

There’s a deeper layer here, and it’s one this blog has been documenting since January 2025, because Cooper DeJean and LeBron James have unfinished business.

Never Forget the Great Snub of January 2025

Let me take you back.

It was January 2025, and Cooper DeJean, AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, Reed Blankenship, and a few other Eagles were sitting courtside at a Sixers game, fresh off the 55-23 demolition of the Commanders in the NFC Championship Game. They watched Tyrese Maxey drop 43 and the Sixers beat LeBron’s Lakers. Great night all around.

During warmups, LeBron made sure to dap up AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, showing love to two of the Eagles’ biggest stars. At the time I wrote that it was a respectable move and I had no complaints about it. Perfectly classy gesture from LeBron to two guys he clearly recognized.

The problem was everyone else. LeBron completely ignored Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean. Clearly the man wasn’t familiar with the Exciting Whites, and I was not happy about the shade.

LeBron James unintentionally disses Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship

LeBron James met up with AJ Brown, Devonta Smith and other Eagles players before the 76ers Lakers game

🐐🐐🐐#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/fHHv9cFPTA

— Eagle Times (@_EagleTimes) January 29, 2025

The Cooper DeJean Reach Still Haunts Me

Reed Blankenship handled it like a true Philly guy. He barely flinched. Didn’t force it, didn’t reach, didn’t even attempt a handshake. Cold-blooded. Total professional.

But Coop? Oh, brother. You could see the hope in DeJean’s eyes as LeBron approached. Our guy started pulling his hand out of his pocket, thinking, just for a split second, that maybe he was about to get acknowledged by one of his favorite athletes of all time.

He did not.

It was brutal. It was heartbreaking. It was a learning moment for a young man, and I think we can all agree it was nothing more than pure LeBron James negligence. The hand came halfway out of the pocket and went right back in, and a piece of Cooper DeJean’s soul went with it.

Now LeBron James Is #OurGuy, So All Is Forgiven

Here’s where it gets complicated, because LeBron is #ourguy now. He’s a Sixer. He chose Philadelphia. I’m not going to say a single bad word about the man who just gave this city the greatest basketball signing in 40 years.

The snub is water under the bridge, and Quinyon Mitchell putting Coop in a Sixers jersey next to LeBron is the perfect way to close the loop, a little inside joke and also a genuine acknowledgment that Cooper DeJean is a serious hooper who belongs in that photo.

I do have to say one thing, respectfully, from a place of love. Cooper DeJean could probably crack the Sixers’ rotation right now and get real minutes, so LeBron might want to take notice this time around. While I would never disrespect the King, I feel obligated to point out that Cooper DeJean would put Bronny in an absolute blender. Not a knock on anybody. Just the truth.

Cooper DeJean Known Hooper

Highlights of new #Eagles DB Cooper DeJean piping on people in high school. pic.twitter.com/Me5EqBkKaC

— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) April 26, 2024

Welcome to Philadelphia, LeBron James. The city loves you. Just do Cooper DeJean a favor and shake the man’s hand this time. He’s been waiting since January 2025 and he deserves it.

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