NBA super star LeBron James surprised many basketball fans when he signed a two-year $8 million dollar deal with the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason. That deal has the 76ers in the spotlight and one of the best-performing stocks of 2026 ready to attach their name to the team, literally.
• Bloom Energy stock is trading at elevated levels. Where are BE shares going?
Bloom Energy Signs Patch Deal
Bloom Energy Corp (NYSE:BE) is one of the hottest stocks in 2026, with shares up 220% year-to-date. The electric power generation company is an AI data center adjacent play and has also attracted attention from Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) (More on that below).
The clean energy company signed a patch deal with the Philadelphia 76ers that will have the company’s name on every team jersey, including those worn by James during the 2026-2027 season.
The deal was said to be north of $30 million annually, ranking second all-time for NBA patch deals, according to Sportico. The Golden State Warriors have a $50 million deal with Iren Ltd. (NASDAQ:IREN), another data center-related stock. The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks have $20 million patch deals in place, according to the report.
While Bloom Energy is headquartered in California, the company also has a manufacturing hub in Newark, Delaware, near Philadelphia, where some of the near 1,200 employees of that facility live.
"This is our second home," Bloom Energy CEO KR Sridhar said in a video interview, as reported by Sportico.
Bloom Energy will make a seven-figure community investment as part of the sponsorship and also be the jersey sponsor for the Delaware Blue Coats, the NBA G League team of the 76ers.
With James on the 76ers, Bloom Energy could soon become a household name for anyone unfamiliar with the company. The 76ers will play in a league-high 34 nationally televised games during the 2026-2027 season.
James new 76ers jersey is the most sought-after for the current season, according to CNBC.
How Nancy Pelosi Could Win
Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi bought Bloom Energy stock back in July, according to the Benzinga Government Trades page. The disclosure also showed options bought for Bloom Energy, a stock that is now up since that purchase.
Here were the Bloom Energy trades made:
- July 24: Bought 100 call options with a $100 strike price, June 17, 2027 expiration date
- July 24: Bought 10,000 shares
- July 28: Bought 100 call options with a $100 strike price, June 17, 2027 expiration date
- July 28: Bought 5,000 shares
Not taking into account the 200 call options, which are worth more today than they were on the purchase date.
Bloom Energy stock traded in a range of $183.22 to $214.19 on July 24 and a range of $157.65 to $176.85 on July 28. This marked a three-month low for the stock, indicating a potential buy-the-dip moment for the Pelosis.
Bloom Energy stock trades at $278.58 today, up significantly from the time of the purchase by the Pelosis.
Pelosi is a fan of the Golden State Warriors, but her investment portfolio may become a fan of the 76ers. A strong season by the team now led by James could help boost the brand awareness of Bloom Energy to levels never seen before.
While that doesn’t necessarily mean the stock will continue to outperform, it could increase deal potential and the number of people who own the stock.
Photo: lev radin/Shutterstock.com and Tinseltown/Shutterstock.com
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