Veteran Timberwolves beat writer leaving to cover LeBron, 76ers

LeBron James isn’t the only notable addition heading to Philadelphia this offseason.

Veteran NBA reporter Chris Hine announced Friday that he’s leaving the Minnesota Star Tribune after eight seasons covering the Timberwolves to join the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he’ll take over coverage of the 76ers.

The move comes little more than a week after James chose the Sixers in free agency, obviously making Philadelphia one of the NBA’s biggest storylines entering next season. OK, probably the absolute biggest.

Still, Hine indicated the decision wasn’t basketball-related as much as personal.

“I’m beyond grateful to the Star Tribune, the Timberwolves and Wolves fans for these last eight amazing years,” Hine wrote on social media. “I’ll miss it and all my friends on the beat. I’ll miss my colleagues at the Strib.”

He added that returning to Pennsylvania allows him to be much closer to family.

“I’ve been in the Midwest since I moved away for college at 18,” Hine wrote. “It’s time to come back closer to home. I’m lucky to get to continue my career just a two-hour drive or so down the PA Turnpike from them.”