The announcement quickly took off on social media, as fans celebrated the Sixers becoming LeBron’s newest team.
In what he said was tue final free agency decision of his career, James expressed his continued passion for basketball and his determination to chase another title.
"I love this game, and I still have more to give," James wrote in a social media post. He emphasized that his primary motivation is to help end the 76ers’ 43-year championship drought. The new contract will usher him into his record-breaking 24th NBA season.
Here’s a look at some of the reactions pouring in across social media as basketball fans process the news of James taking his talents to Philadelphia.
Social media reacts to LeBron James' move to 76ers
Here are some social media reactions to LeBron James' announcement that he is joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
LEBRON IS COMING TO PHILLY.
By the power vested in me as the Governor of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a die-hard Sixers fan... I hereby proclaim today to be LEBRON JAMES DAY.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half of a game against the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena on April 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What was first just a dream has become a frightening reality for those who may oppose the City of Brotherly Love.
Philadelphia now has both Michael Jordan AND LeBron James.
And now the Sixers are adding the second-best player (or so) in basketball history to their roster. It’s hard to believe it’s real but James is coming to Philly. Our good friends over at Liberty Ballers have full coverage of the big news.
I realize that not all BGN readers are also Sixers fans but this is clearly a huge development for Philly and the NBA writ large. We already have multiple entries in The Feed about this topic:
Wild times! And funny that two of the biggest names in the NBA GOAT debate, one of them being the actual player, are now in the same sports city.
Guessing we’ll see LeBron attending some Eagles games this season. And a larger Eagles presence at some Sixers games.
Welcome to the city! Let me know when you tryna tee it up 🏌🏽⛳️ @KingJames
James made it clear he had one goal in deciding to play for the 76ers after being courted by a plethora of teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves.
"I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time," James wrote in a post to X.
James isn't alone in his belief about the 76ers being a championship-caliber squad. Oddsmakers believe the Philadelphia will be among the favorites to win the 2026-27 NBA title after inking the 22-time All-Star to a two-year, $8 million contract.
Even so, the 76ers haven't risen to the top of the list yet, as two Western Conference squads are the co-favorites to win the 2027 NBA Finals.
Here's a full look at how James signing with the 76ers has shaken up the NBA power structure.
Ranking NBA teams by odds after LeBron signs with 76ers
Odds via BetMGM as of Friday, July 24.
T-1. Oklahoma City Thunder (+275)
The Thunder have one of the NBA's deepest teams, led by perennial MVP candidate Shai Gligeous-Alexander and a quality collection of young talent headlined by Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. Sam Presti retooled Oklahoma City's roster during the offseason to avoid the dreaded second apron, but the squad still has the talent needed to be one of the NBA's top contenders.
T-1. San Antonio Spurs (+275)
The Spurs made a surprise run to the 2026 NBA Finals as Victor Wembanyama blossomed into one of the league's most impressive two-way talents. If Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle can continue their development alongside Wembanyama, San Antonio's young core could soon power it to an NBA title.
3. New York Knicks (+800)
The Knicks won their first NBA title since 1973, dispatching the Spurs in five games during the 2026 NBA Finals. Can New York do it again? The Knicks are returning most of that title-winning core, and the chemistry possessed by the Jalen Brunson-led starting five should make the team a tough out in the Eastern Conference.
4. Philadelphia 76ers (+1000)
No team has improved more during the 2026 NBA offseason than the 76ers. Not only did they ink LeBron on a two-year contract, they also traded Paul George and two first-round picks to add Jaylen Brown to their starting lineup. Adding those two talents to a strong core that already featured Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe could allow Philadelphia to emerge as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
5. Boston Celtics (+1400)
The Celtics made a head-scratching trade dealing Brown to the 76ers for George. Even so, Boston has been a perennial contender under Joe Mazzulla and shored up one of its biggest weaknesses by signing center Mitchell Robinson from the Knicks in free agency. That should allow the Celtics to remain competitive, though their overreliance on the 3-point shot could again be their undoing.
6. Denver Nuggets (+2200)
The Nuggets are returning most of the team that went 54-28 last season and finished third in the Western Conference standings. Perennial MVP Nikola Jokic and microwave scorer Jamaal Murray remain an elite duo, so Denver can be expected to once again have one of the league's most potent offenses.
T-7. Cleveland Cavaliers (+2500)
The Cavaliers were unable to lure LeBron James back to Cleveland for a third go-round with his hometown team. As such, the Cavs will rely on Donovan Mitchell and James Harden to carry them during the upcoming season. Their newest piece, veteran point guard Dennis Schroeder, will help give the team another ball-handling option after being acquired as part of the DeAndre Hunter trade.
T-7. Detroit Pistons (+2500)
The Pistons were the Eastern Conference's lone 60-win team last season but couldn't get past the Knicks after being taken to seven games in the first round by the Orlando Magic. Cade Cunningham remains Detroit's primary building block but the supporting cast around him will look different in 2026-27, as the Pistons offloaded Tobias Harris, Caris LeVert and Isaiah Stewart while bringing in John Collins and Isaiah Joe, among others.
T-7. Minnesota Timberwolves (+2500)
The Timberwolves were a sleeper in the James sweepstakes but couldn't persuade him to come to Minnesota. Now, the Timberwolves will rely on the young duo of Anthony Edwards and offseason trade acquisition LaMelo Ball to help them get to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
T-7. Toronto Raptors (+2500)
The Raptors are awaiting approval for the trade that landed Kawhi Leonard back in Toronto. If it goes through, it will raise the Raptors' ceiling. If not, Toronto could once again find itself battling to avoid the play-in tournament amid a crowd of Eastern Conference playoff teams.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 12: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before Game Five of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on May 12, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
And just like that, it was over.
BREAKING: LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option, Klutch Sports Group and Klutch CEO and Game Over show host Rich Paul tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ALOlTkgdAV
One tweet from Shams Charania was all it took to end several weeks of speculation, amateur detective work, Timberwolves emoji analysis, and increasingly elaborate attempts to convince ourselves that LeBron James had always dreamed of spending the final chapter of his career in Minneapolis.
According to Charania, acting on information from Rich Paul, LeBron will join the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year contract for the upcoming season. Minutes later, James confirmed the decision with a post of his own on X, officially closing the door on Minnesota and ending his latest “Where will he go?” saga.
He is not taking his talents to Lake Minnetonka to form a super team with Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball. He is not slipping into the glaring vacancy at power forward, organizing Minnesota’s offense, chasing another championship, and forcing the NBA to place half the Timberwolves’ schedule on national television.
Instead, LeBron has decided to hitch the twilight of his career to Joel Embiid’s knees, which at this point appear to be held together by athletic tape, optimism, and whatever material IKEA uses for the backs of inexpensive bookshelves. Good luck with that.
The news is disappointing, even if it is not exactly shocking. Minnesota was reportedly among the handful of serious contenders, but there was always a difference between being in the conversation and being the final choice. Wolves fans understood that. There was no guarantee that the greatest player of his generation would suddenly look at the Upper Midwest and decide this was the natural destination for the closing act of his career.
Still, it was fun to imagine. For a few weeks, Wolves fans could picture LeBron wearing Minnesota colors and occupying the precise position this roster still needs to fill. On a purely basketball level, the fit made an enormous amount of sense. The Wolves currently have a glaring hole at power forward after an offseason that sent Julius Randle to Brooklyn and Naz Reid to Charlotte. James could have stepped naturally between Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, giving Minnesota a formidable three-four-five combination built around length, strength, intelligence, and defensive versatility.
He also would have been joining Anthony Edwards at exactly the moment Edwards is beginning to make a credible push toward becoming the face of the league. That part mattered beyond wins, losses, and lineup combinations. LeBron choosing Minnesota would have represented the most dramatic validation imaginable for a franchise that spent most of its history as a punchline. For decades, imagining a player of LeBron’s stature voluntarily signing with Minnesota would have required the kind of suspension of disbelief normally reserved for superhero movies.
But the organization is not that franchise anymore. Under Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, with Tim Connelly reshaping the basketball operation and Edwards becoming a legitimate superstar, the Timberwolves have climbed out of the NBA basement and established themselves near the top of the Western Conference. They have become a legitimate contender. National media members have spent the past weeks talking about Minnesota as a place where championships might actually be won rather than somewhere promising seasons go to die.
That is why LeBron’s final decision stings, but it should not erase the significance of Minnesota being involved in the first place. The Wolves did not win the sweepstakes, but they were invited into the room. For this franchise, that alone represents progress.
Of course, progress does not solve the power-forward problem. The Wolves dramatically reshaped their roster this summer. Randle and Reid, two cornerstone pieces of the team’s recent success, are gone. Their departures carried an obvious basketball cost and, in Reid’s case, a substantial emotional one. It remains to be seen how Connelly and Finch will address the void created by their departures.
Those tough transactions allowed the Wolves to acquire LaMelo Ball from Charlotte, creating one of the most exciting backcourts in the NBA. Ball and Edwards now give Minnesota an almost absurd amount of creativity, athleticism, flair, and offensive possibility. Together, they could produce the kind of nightly highlight package that would have consumed Sports Center back in the 90’s.
Minnesota still has Gobert anchoring the middle and providing the basis for an elite defense. He remains a four-time Defensive Player of the Year and, unlike Philadelphia’s preferred center, actually stays on the court.
Oh, and I forgot to mention…. “We got Jaden McDaniels.”
That sentence should never be treated as an afterthought.
Ball, Edwards, McDaniels, and Gobert form an impressive foundation. The roster may be imperfectly configured, especially at power forward, but its strengths are obvious and substantial.
While the LeBron drama has been sucking the oxygen out of the room, other Wolves developments flew under the radar. Apparently, Anthony Edwards got married, adding another unexpected chapter to an offseason already packed with roster changes, superstar rumors, and franchise-altering decisions. That news may not change Minnesota’s offensive rating, but it contributes to the larger sense that Edwards is entering a different phase of his life and career.
Signs of that evolution are beginning to show up elsewhere. Reports suggest that Edwards is attempting to organize a team gathering in Paris so the new-look roster can build cohesion alongside Gobert. That may sound like a minor offseason detail, but leadership is often revealed through exactly these kinds of actions. Edwards has always possessed the charisma, confidence, and talent of a franchise player. The next stage is becoming the person who actively shapes the team’s culture, brings teammates together, and understands that championship contention begins long before opening night.
For the first time, there is no question about whose team this is. Randle is gone. Reid is gone. Mike Conley’s veteran influence has diminished as Edwards has ascended. LeBron is heading somewhere else. Ant is now the undisputed leader of the Minnesota Timberwolves, not merely their most talented player. That distinction matters.
There have been moments in Edwards’ career when his immense ability appeared to be developing faster than his maturity. That is not unusual for a young superstar, particularly one who entered the league with the personality and confidence to command a room before he had fully learned how to command a franchise. But organizing offseason workouts, prioritizing team chemistry, and showing renewed energy after the acquisition of Ball all suggest that Edwards understands the responsibility now sitting in front of him. The Wolves do not need him to become LeBron James. They need him to become the fullest possible version of Anthony Edwards.
The Western Conference will not make it easy. It never does. Oklahoma City remains a powerhouse, although the financial realities of the second apron have begun pressing against its roster. San Antonio has rapidly become a major threat, and the Wolves know firsthand how difficult that matchup can be. Minnesota pushed the Spurs to the limit despite a hobbled Edwards, no Donte DiVincenzo, and the complete disappearance of Julius Randle.
The Wolves came close under difficult circumstances. Now they will return with a dramatically different offensive structure, a rejuvenated Edwards, and Ball providing the playmaking they sorely lacked. There will be growing pains. The frontcourt balance remains unresolved. The chemistry between the new backcourt will require time. Ball’s health will always be part of the equation.
Could the Wolves fare better than LeBron’s new team? That is impossible to answer in July, but Philadelphia’s path is hardly risk-free. James may believe the Sixers provide his best championship opportunity, yet their entire plan rests heavily on Embiid remaining available when the games matter most. Recent history suggests that is less a roster strategy than an annual hostage negotiation with the human body.
Perhaps Philadelphia will put everything together. Maybe Embiid will stay healthy, LeBron will summon one more deep postseason run, and the Sixers will finally escape the maze of second-round disappointments that has defined this era. Or maybe the New York Knicks will ceremoniously bounce them from the playoffs again while Philadelphia wonders why it built another championship plan around a center who cannot reliably survive until May.
For Wolves fans, the correct response is neither despair nor denial. LeBron would have helped. His arrival would have elevated Minnesota’s profile, solved a positional need, and delivered one of the most important moments in franchise history. Losing that possibility is disappointing.
But the Wolves are not suddenly lost because a 41-year-old superstar chose another destination. Their future remains tied to Edwards, Ball, McDaniels, Gobert, and whatever additional moves Connelly can make to balance the roster. It remains tied to the growth of young players, the development of team chemistry, and Edwards’ evolution from explosive superstar into complete franchise leader.
The path did not disappear when LeBron chose Philadelphia. It simply became Edward’s path again.
And perhaps that is not entirely bad. There will be no daily LeBron drama consuming the season. No endless debate about whose team it is. No national media caravan treating every quote as evidence of an internal power struggle. No need to reshape the franchise’s identity around the preferences of a superstar nearing the end of his career.
The Wolves can move forward with Ant at the center of everything. They can allow Ball to unlock the offense, Gobert to stabilize the defense, McDaniels to terrorize opposing wings, and Edwards to determine how far this group can climb.
Because in the end, did we really want that geriatric, flopping diva arriving in Minneapolis, disrupting the chemistry, dominating every press conference, and stealing attention from the greatness of Anthony Edwards anyway?
Do not answer that.
I am working through something.
For now, I will sit with my sour grapes, prepare myself for the LaMelo-Ant experience, and look forward to another season of following this strange, exhilarating, occasionally maddening franchise through every high and low.
The Wolves’ pursuit of their first Western Conference title, and ultimately their first NBA Finals appearance, will continue without LeBron James.
The free agency decision that the entire NBA had been waiting for has finally come. Late Friday morning, LeBron James announced via his Instagram that he is joining the Philadelphia 76ers, with ESPN's Shams Charania reporting that the contract is worth $8 million over two years with a player option for the 2027-28 campaign.
With all the 76ers have done under new lead executive Mike Gansey, most notably acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics for Paul George and future draft capital, James' decision makes Philadelphia an unquestioned title contender next season. However, how will LeBron's decision to head east affect his fantasy outlook and the outlooks for his new teammates? Let's take a look.
Joel Embiid
Embiid's biggest issue throughout his career has been availability, and the 7-footer has appeared in 39 games or fewer in each of his last three seasons. The additions of Brown and James should give the 76ers more flexibility regarding Embiid's usage. Combined with the injuries, this likely lowers Embiid's fantasy ceiling. "The Process" had a fourth-round ADP last season, and that's likely to remain the case in 2026-27. If Embiid can remain reasonably healthy, he can be a fantasy stud even with Philadelphia's roster additions; few teams have a center capable of neutralizing him.
Tyrese Maxey
Maxey was Philadelphia's best fantasy performer last season, and that should remain the case in 2026-27. While the scoring may decrease, his assist tally should receive a boost after averaging a career-best 6.6 helpers per game in 2025-26. The 76ers may be able to give Maxey a little more rest after he averaged 38.0 minutes per game last season, which could improve his efficiency. Maxey's ADP was just outside of the first round in 12-team formats last season; he's got a strong case to be a first-round pick in standard leagues this fall.
VJ Edgecombe
If there's a holdover to be concerned about regarding fantasy value with LeBron headed to Philadelphia, it's Edgecombe. One of the best fantasy rookies in the NBA last season, the athletic guard outperformed his ADP (97) by a significant distance, offering fifth-round per-game value. Edgecombe's usage of 19.6 ranked 17th among rookies last season, and that number is likely to drop. However, remaining a top-100 fantasy player should not be an issue for VJ, given what he brings to the table as a shooter, defender and secondary playmaker.
Jaylen Brown
Coming off of what he considers to be the best individual season of his career, Brown's new rotation became even more crowded with the LeBron decision. The former Celtic posted career-high averages in points, rebounds and assists, and his usage of 36.2 was also a career-best. Points and usage are likely to decrease, which places even more "stress" on Brown's defensive numbers, percentages, and turnovers in fantasy basketball. Close to a top-25 player when punting turnovers, Brown once again finished outside the top-50 in nine-cat formats.
The “supporting cast”
Dean Wade, who wasn't a reliable fantasy option in Cleveland, takes the most significant hit with Friday's news. Appearing to be in line for a place in the 76ers' starting lineup, he'll have to come off the bench now that LeBron is a 76er. Dominick Barlow, who made 59 starts last season, also gets knocked down a peg. However, like Wade, there was not much to gain from rostering Barlow in most fantasy leagues.
Anfernee Simons will still be in a position where he can provide scoring off the bench, but his fantasy upside remains severely limited. And while there remains a lot to like about first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr.'s long-term fantasy outlook, he's in a tough spot regarding the ability to make an impact as a rookie.
This fall, Lebron James will be taking his talents to the City of Brotherly Love and joining the Philadelphia 76ers, the future Hall-of-Famer announced Friday morning.
The deal is for two years and $8 million with a player option for the 2027-28 season, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
James chose the Sixers over his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, another one of his former teams in the Miami Heat, and other contenders around the league. SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reported on July 2 that the Knicks were happy with their current roster, despite the news that James would have chosen to sign with New York had they not won the 2026 NBA Finals.
The 41-year-old said Friday he contemplated retirement after the end of the 2025-26 season, his 23rd in the NBA, but still loves basketball and has "more to give." James noted this will be his "last decision" and wants the "chance at the feeling of winning another championship" as his career winds down.
"I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time," James posted on X.
James will now team up with 2023 MVP Joel Embiid, recently acquired All-Star and 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, and young stars Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in an attempt to stop New York from repeating as champions.
While it may be his last year in the association, James is already the NBA's all-time leading scorer, fourth all time in assists with a realistic chance to move up to second place, and 23rd in all time rebounds. Last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, James averaged 20.9 points (tied for the lowest of his career with his rookie season), 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game over 60 contests.
another championship.
I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.
Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!
The NBA icon is entering his 24th season in the league, joining the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million deal.
James, though, made it clear that the decision wasn't easy. In a lengthy message posted on his official X account, James said he mulled retirement before deciding to come back and play for the upcoming season. He also added that this is his "last decision," potentially signaling the forthcoming end of his illustrious career.
His official message in its entirety is here:
I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn't ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and deicide if I still love
"I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn't ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and deicide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.
"The last few weeks have really been special. I’ve never been able to have no clue what to do and take real time to just think. I’ve had an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all out. This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point?
"I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.
"I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.
"Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!"
James and the Los Angeles Lakers parted ways this offseason, leaving an uncertain future for the four-time NBA MVP and four-time NBA champion.
That future turned out to be in Philadelphia, where he will join a reworked roster that features Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecomb.
Philadelphia was eliminated by the eventual champion New York Knicks in the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. They were swept 4-0, eventually leading to the trade to acquire Brown.
LeBron James is a name known to everyone now whether they follow the NBA or not.
On Friday, June 25, the future NBA Hall-of-Famer once again made headlines as he announced that he will be finishing his playing career with the Philadelphia 76ers. James, now 41, spent the last eight seasons in Los Angeles where he won an NBA title in 2020 and also became the league's all-time leading scorer during that stretch.
However, long before he was establishing himself as one of the all-time greats in the NBA, James was one of the fastest rising high school phenoms.
It didn't take James playing in college or staring in the NBA early on for him to become nationally known. James played his high school days St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron (OH) from 1999-2003.
He became a star as a freshman, averaging 21 points and 6.2 rebounds while leading the Fighting Irish to a 23-1 record and the Division III state championship. The next year he was even better, averaging 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals.
Those stats earned him USA TODAY All-USA First Team honors along with the Ohio Mr. Basketball award and he once again led the team to the Division IIII state championship as they finished the year 26-1.
It was James' junior year that fully put him on the national radar.
That year he became known as 'The Chosen One' after being featured on a Sports Illustrated cover in February of 2002. He averaged 29 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.3 steals en route to becoming the first junior to ever win Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
As a senior is when James was at his best. He averaged 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.4 steals, leading the Fighting Irish to a 25-1 record. That year he scored a high school career-best 52 points in a win over Westchester (CA) and also led them to an upset-win over Oak Hill Academy, which was then ranked as the No. 1 team in the country.
The Fighting Irish went 101-6 during James' career and he finished his high school career with 2,646 points. Cleveland selected him with the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft and the rest is history.
Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles before the game on February 5, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The biggest drama of the NBA offseason has concluded and, unfortunately, the Golden State Warriors did not get a rose. On Friday morning, superstar LeBron James announced that he would be signing with the Philadelphia 76ers. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, with James announcing it on social media a minute later. Per Charania, it’s a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option.
James free agency dragged on for nearly a month after his shocking departure from the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons. Reunions with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat seemed the most likely, but a pairing with Steph Curry and his close friend Draymond Green on the Warriors was a distinct possibility as well. As the month wore on, it appeared that those three, plus the Sixers and Minnesota Timberwolves, were the favorites, though no one was sure which way James was leaning.
Ultimately, it appears that James is chasing a chance at a fifth ring over anything else. He turned down far more lucrative offers, moved across the coast from his family, and didn’t opt for the glamor of Miami, New York, or LA, while picking a team that might become title favorites with him in the fold. In a thread on X, James, who revealed that he was very close to retiring at the end of the season, said, “This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.”
James now joins a revamped Sixers team that has pulled off the two most shocking moves of the offseason: signing the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, and trading Paul George for Jaylen Brown. With James, Brown, former MVP Joel Embiid, star guard Tyrese Maxey, and breakout rookie V.J. Edgecombe, the Sixers are fielding a wildly competitive team. Ultimately, that was more appealing to James that staying in California and golfing with Curry and Green while playing for a presumably less competitive team.
The Dubs now will pivot to re-signing Green (who had opted out of his deal to facilitate a potential James signing), and using the mid-level exception to bolster the roster.
Throughout this dragged-out process, LeBron James has said that winning — playing in meaningful games with an opportunity to chase a fifth ring — was his top priority. Friday he backed up those words.
After taking nearly a month to make his decision, LeBron is signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN, who got the news from LeBron's agent Rich Paul.
LeBron joins a stacked East team featuring point guard Tyrese Maxey and just-acquired wing Jaylen Brown — both All-NBA players last season — as well as Joel Embiid, who showed last year during the playoffs against Boston he is still capable of taking over a series and winning it for his team. The team also has VJ Edgecombe at the two, power forward Dean Wade (who likely moves to a bench role now), plus depth in Anfernee Simons, Ariel Hukporti, and promising rookie Labaron Philon Jr.
LeBron said from the start he was going to take his time with his decision and let major moves — like the trades of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown — take place first. When the dust settled a little, he would make his call. From the start, LeBron said this was not about money, it was about being competitive for a title and his happiness.
That landed him in Philadelphia with a team that will join the Knicks as the early favorites to come out of the East. While LeBron is betting on Embiid's knees to hold up in the playoffs, the depth of this roster with him on it makes the load Embiid needs to carry for the first 82 games that much lighter.
In LeBron, the 76ers get a four-time champ and the league's all-time leading scorer who is still playing at an All-Star level despite entering his record 24th NBA season at age 41. Last season with the Lakers he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds a game, playing in 60 games.
LeBron can't take over a game (or a full playoff series) like he once did, but he can rise to that level for a stretch — a quarter, a half — and will a team to a win. He showed that in the playoffs, when the Lakers were without the injured Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves against Houston, and LeBron took on his familiar role as the primary scorer and shot creator, leading the Lakers to a series win.
With this decision, expect a quick rush of other free agency moves — a lot of deals were held up waiting for LeBron to make his call. Cleveland, Philadelphia and Golden State all had moves on hold, plus players such as DeMar DeRozan and Jonathan Kuminga were waiting for this decision so that the rest of the market to shake out.
Mike Gansey may have locked up Executive of the Year with this move. Gansey was brought in to replace Darryl Morey as the President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia and he has had as good a summer as anyone. He took advantage of the Celtics' salary dumping Jaylen Brown, then convinced LeBron to finish his career with a team he had not been on before, which comes with a sense of unfamiliarity. The 76ers enter next season as a legit threat to make the NBA Finals.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 5, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James is trying to win the NBA’s GOAT argument on longevity, and he’s somehow still going strong on the brink of his 42nd birthday. James isn’t the best player in the NBA anymore, but he proved last season with the Los Angeles Lakers that he can still carry a team for long stretches and look like an All-NBA player in his best moments. James hit free agency for the fourth time in his career this summer, and now he has announced his next chapter after eight years in LA.
James announced he’s signing with the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2026-27 season, in a move first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. This will be the 24th season of his career, and he’s spending it with a team no one could have seen coming a few weeks ago.
I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn’t ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and deicide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give. The last few weeks have really been special. I’ve never been able to have no clue what to do and take real time to just think. I’ve had an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all out. This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship. I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time. Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!
The Cavs selected James with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 draft. He took Cleveland to the 2007 NBA Finals in his fourth pro season, but eventually left in free agency for the Miami Heat in 2010. James led the Heat to the NBA Finals in all four seasons with the franchise, including winning his first two championships in 2012 and 2013. James hit free agency again in 2014, and decided to return to Cleveland, which led to the greatest moment of his NBA career.
James took the Cavs to the NBA Finals in fourth straight years, facing the Golden State Warriors every time. Though he only came away with one championship, it will go down in NBA history as one of the most impressive title runs ever. The 2016 Warriors broke the record for regular season wins by finishing 73-9. Golden State took a commanding 3-1 lead over Cleveland in the NBA Finals before Draymond Green’s Game 5 suspension swung the series. James and Kyrie Irving were incredible to close the series, with LeBron’s chasedown block sealing the improbable series comeback. It’s the only 3-1 comeback in NBA Finals history.
It’s hard to believe that James’ eight years with the Lakers were the most he spent consecutively with one team during his career. The Lakers made their big move after James’ first season with the franchise when they swung a trade for Anthony Davis in November of 2019. The covid pandemic interrupted the duo’s first season together, but when the league restarted inside the bubble, no one could beat the Lakers. James and Davis led Los Angeles to the 2020 championship by knocking off the Miami Heat, with James earning Finals MVP honors for the fourth time.
From there, LeBron’s Lakers tenure was full of false starts, from the doomed Russell Westbrook experiment to choosing Talen Horton-Tucker over Alex Caruso to eventually trading Davis for Luka Doncic. James announced he was leaving Los Angeles this summer, and that set up his move to the Sixers.
We had the Sixers at No. 12 in our way-too-early power rankings earlier this month after the first wave of free agency and trades. With LeBron, this team could easily talk itself into being the class of the East, and the biggest challenger to the New York Knicks for an NBA Finals berth.
New Sixers lead executive Mike Gansey really did this. LeBron James will end his career with the Sixers. I can’t believe it’s real.
LeBron James is headed to Philadelphia.Photograph: Jae C Hong/AP
LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8m deal that includes a player option. Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul confirmed the terms of the agreement to ESPN, and James addressed the move in a post on X on Friday morning, saying it came after he strongly considered retirement.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time,” he said.
The move pairs the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and the newly acquired Jaylen Brown as Philadelphia bolster their roster in pursuit of a first NBA championship since 1983. James arrives after spending the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The deal gives James the flexibility to become a free agent again after one season while limiting the 76ers’ long-term financial commitment. James made nearly $53m with the Lakers last season.
The 41-year-old wrote in his X post that he believed he was “done” and had played the final game of his storied NBA career before deciding to sign with Philadelphia for a record 24th season.
“I wasn’t ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game,” James rote. “I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and deicide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.
“The last few weeks have really been special. I’ve never been able to have no clue what to do and take real time to just think. I’ve had an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all out. This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.”
The 76ers went 45-37 last season and were swept in the second round of the playoffs by the eventual champion New York Knicks. They have been active this offseason, acquiring Brown, a five-time All-Star and the 2024 Finals MVP, earlier this month via trade. They have not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 2001.
James is a four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and the league’s all-time leading scorer. He is the NBA’s oldest active player and averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists for the Lakers last season. His announcement at the end of June that he would not return to the Lakers led to much speculation about his next destination, with Golden State, Cleveland and Miami – he led the latter two teams to championships – all floated as potential landing spots.
The signing will become official once it is completed under NBA rules.
“Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!” James said in his post.
LeBron James took his time pondering where he would play next after eight seasons with the Lakers. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
After nearly a month of mulling his options, LeBron James announced in a social media post that he will sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year $8 million contract.
James, a small forward, will join guards Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe, forward Jaylen Brown and center Joel Embiid in a star-studded 76ers lineup. James’ deal includes a player option, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul told ESPN.
In a series of X.com posts, James said he contemplated retirement before choosing the 76ers over several other suitors.
“I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give,” he said.
I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn't ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and deicide if I still love
James will hope to break a 43-year championship drought for the 76ers, much the same way he erased a 52-year streak without a title for the city of Cleveland when he won a championship with the Cavaliers in 2016.
This likely will be the final free agency decision James will make as the 41-year-old enters a record-breaking 24th season. He said winning a fifth NBA title is his primary motivation.
“This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point?” James wrote on X. “I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”
The 76ers finished 45-37 and seventh in the NBA Eastern Conference last season. However, they traded for Brown, a bona fide superstar, sending Paul George, two first-round draft picks and two second-round picks to the Boston Celtics on July 6. Brown, a nine-year veteran, averaged 28.7 points a game last season and helped the Celtics win the NBA title in 2024.
This was the fourth foray into free agency for James, 41, who will begin his unprecedented 24th NBA season in October. He played the previous eight seasons with the Lakers, his longest continuous stint with any franchise.
It was widely reported that James would accept the $3.9 million veterans’ minimum exception. He will be paid far less than the approximately $57 million new teammates Embiid and Brown each will make, but James has made a record $584 million in career salary and his net worth is an estimated $1.4 billion thanks to endorsements and investments.
Reaction to the signing was swift. Nobody seemed more excited than Dawn Staley, the decorated South Carolina women’s basketball coach and a Philadelphia native. A longtime friend of James and his family, she posted a video while courtside at a game.
“Yo Philly, yo Philly, yo Philly! We got the King, y’all!” Staley said before telling James’ wife, Savannah, that she is available for advice on a school for the James’ daughter. “Savannah, we got you! ‘Bron, ‘Bron, good, great choice. My guy!”
James, an Akron, Ohio, native, played his first seven seasons with the Cavaliers after being the first overall draft pick in 2003 at age 18, spent four with the Miami Heat then returned to Cleveland for an additional four years before signing with the Lakers ahead of the 2018-2019 season. He has won four NBA championships, including one with the Lakers in 2020.
James informed the Lakers on June 30 that he would be signing elsewhere. Since then several teams made pitches for his services, with the Golden State Warriors, Heat, Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves considered favorites along with the 76ers.
Not only were fans of those teams anxious to learn his decision. Last week, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the regular-season schedule had not been set because the league was waiting on James.
“We have to finish up the schedule. And where LeBron plays will affect the schedule,” Silver said at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit in New York. “So I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule, because, as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the schedule. But it will influence how we set the schedule, how we set opening week, Christmas Day, etc. So I need him to make a decision.”
A day later, James stood on stage at Fanatics Fest in New York and said he wanted to join a team that “shares the same model as myself, and that’s like practicing championship [habits] every day, but trusting the process more than anything.”
A false alarm became part of the narrative when the Heat posted a link July 21 to a scheduled live stream titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference” to its YouTube channel. A team spokesperson said it was a mistake, that the club’s social media department was preparing for the possibility of James’ signing. The post was deleted.
James has announced his agreements with new teams in various ways. When he left the Cavaliers in 2010 to team with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Heat, he announced his choice on a live television special called “The Decision,” saying “I’m taking my talents to South Beach.” On Friday morning, a thread on X relayed the big news.
Fans in Cleveland burned his jersey, and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert posted a letter on the team website calling James’ decision a “cowardly betrayal.”
Four years and two NBA championships with the Heat later, James returned to his home state of Ohio to play for the Cavaliers again in 2014. His first-person Sports Illustrated essay written with senior writer Lee Jenkins shared his “I’m Coming Home” choice with the world.
“I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there,” James wrote. “I just didn’t know when. After the season, free agency wasn’t even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown. I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland.”
James led the Cavaliers to four consecutive NBA Finals and a championship in 2016 when Cleveland overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Warriors. It was the greatest NBA Finals comeback in history and brought the Cavaliers their first title.
But it turns out most of his child-rearing came in Los Angeles. In 2018, James decided not to pick up his player option and signed a four-year, $153.3-million contract to play for the Lakers, choosing them over the 76ers and a return to the Cavaliers. His salary escalated each year, rising to $52.6 million last season.
“LA has welcomed the arrival of Rabbit, Logo, Stumpy, Big Dipper, Captain, Silk, Magic, Big Game, Diesel, Mamba, Spaniard and now welcomes a King!!” Lakers co-owner Joey Buss tweeted.
In James’ second season in L.A., the Lakers won their 17th NBA championship in a bubble at Walt Disney World to cap the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. James notched a triple-double in the clinching Game 6 and earned Finals most valuable player for the fourth time in his career.
James set the league all-time scoring record while wearing the purple and gold, but his eight seasons with the Lakers also included failures. The 2021-2022 season is widely regarded as the most disappointing in team history. The overwhelming favorite in Las Vegas to win the championship when the season began, the Lakers finished 33-49 and missed the playoffs.
The Lakers never made it past the Western Conference finals over the next four seasons, including getting swept in the conference semifinals by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2026. James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists last season while adding to his list of NBA records, setting marks for games played, all-time wins and field goals made.
The Lakers pivoted quickly after James announced he wouldn’t return, overhauling the roster to complement star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. They traded for 7-foot-2 center Walker Kessler and signed free agents Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Kevon Looney.
Meanwhile, James methodically listened to pitches from a handful of teams, ultimately settling on the 76ers.
Rich Paul, James’ agent and close friend, said on a podcast Monday that the ample time James took making the decision was necessary because the choice was difficult.
“I think it’s important for people to understand: We’re not making this about attention and a spectacle,” Paul said. “It’s not about a ‘Decision’ or anything like that. He has a choice to make. He has a business choice to make.”
Giving himself the best shot at a fifth title was key. James has played in 302 postseason games, by far the most of any NBA player, and scored 20 or more points in 261 of them. His teams are 42-15 in playoff series and 188-114 in games. He has scored the most points in the playoffs (8,521) in addition to the most points in the regular season (43,440).
“It’s amazing what he’s done for the sport, for the league, and he deserves the opportunities that were presented to him to be able to make his own decision on what’s best for him and his family,” Silver said last week. “So I completely respect that.”
James will sign a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, a person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not publicly authorized to comment on the contract details.
“This is my last decision,” James said in his post on social media. “I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”
This deal brings James back for the 2026-27 season, which will be his 24th and will extend his record for most seasons played in NBA history.
This is a clear indication that the 76ers intend to compete with the New York Knicks and other top teams in the conference for supremacy in the East. After rallying from a 3-1 series deficit in the first round of the playoffs, Philadelphia upset the Boston Celtics, winning three consecutive games to advance into the conference semifinals.
I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn't ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and deicide if I still love
That, however, was a different story. The Knicks completely overwhelmed the Sixers, sweeping them en route to New York’s first championship in 53 years. With James and Brown, Philadelphia’s offense will be a fascinating watch. Because of the availability issues with Embiid and former 76er Paul George, Maxey was forced to carry the scoring burden for much of the season. Maxey was also Philadelphia’s primary ball-handler, and James instantly brings a play-making force to help initiate offense.
Adding Rookie of the Year finalist VJ Edgecombe to the mix, the 76ers and coach Nick Nurse will need to find a way to distribute the ball cleanly and ensure that each player has his role clearly defined.
This is, to be sure, a good problem to have. But with all these stars on the roster, expectations – both internal and external – will be astronomical. So much, so that the only acceptable result, assuming full health, would be a deep run in the playoffs, at least with a trip to the conference finals.
This comes in the wake of Los Angeles getting swept in the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a series during which the Lakers were missing star player and NBA leading scorer Luka Dončić.
James became an unrestricted free agent after he played the final season of his contract in 2025-26, which was a player option. James and his agent, Rich Paul, had acknowledged in June 2025 that the Lakers were building for the future – a future that seemingly might not have included James.
The Lakers played extremely well down the stretch during the games when James, Dončić and Austin Reaves were healthy and available. Los Angeles won 16 of the 18 games prior to April 2, which was the night Dončić suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. The team then lost three in a row (including the game that Dončić left early), but James was instrumental in elevating the play of the Lakers, who also missed Reaves for extended stretches.
In particular, James, who turns 42 in December, was exceptional during the first-round series against the Houston Rockets, a series Los Angeles won in six games.
James is set to sign a 2-year contract with the 76ers worth $8 million and it includes a player option for the second season, a person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. This means James will essentially make the veteran's minimum during the 2026-27 season and will be the cheapest contract he has ever signed. Why?
Because he had the leverage and ability to do so, even at 41 years old. Here's more on why James signed such a small deal compared to other NBA superstars:
Although he tied for the lowest scoring average of his career this season, James nonetheless scored 20.9 points per game, adding 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds, and shot 51.5% from the field, 31.7% on 3-pointers and 73.7% on free throws. He made the All-Star team for a league-record 22nd consecutive time.
“I thought I was done when the season ended,” James said. “I wasn’t ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game.
“I still truly love this game, and I have more to give. The last few weeks have really been special. I’ve never been able to have no clue what to do and take real time to just think. I’ve had an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all out.”
A 22-time All-Star and four-time MVP, James is also a four-time NBA champion – with four NBA Finals MVP trophies along the way. He’s a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and had stops with the Cleveland Cavaliers (twice), the Miami Heat and the Lakers. He won at least one NBA championship with each squad.
James is also a three-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012, 2024) and won bronze in 2004.
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, after the Lakers drafted his eldest son, Bronny, the pair also became the first father-son duo to appear in a regular-season game together, in a 110-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
James already holds several NBA all-time records, including points scored (43,440), field goal attempts (31,502), minutes played (61,030) and he also holds the all-time record for nearly every major individual playoff statistic.
No team has improved more during the 2026 NBA offseason than the 76ers. Not only did they ink LeBron on a two-year, minimum contract, they also traded Paul George and two first-round picks to add Jaylen Brown to their starting lineup. Adding those two talents to a strong core that already featured Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe could allow Philadelphia to emerge as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
Governor Josh Shapiro has added some declarations to the mix, making today LeBron James Day. — Gabe Zaldivar
LEBRON IS COMING TO PHILLY.
By the power vested in me as the Governor of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a die-hard Sixers fan... I hereby proclaim today to be LEBRON JAMES DAY.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 7: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers smile during the game on December 7, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Normally, when we write something along the lines of “it’s never a dull moment with the Sixers,” something either horrible or incredibly annoying has taken place.
For once, the news is unquestionably exciting.
LeBron James, arguably the greatest player to ever touch a basketball and one of the most successful athletes on the planet, is going to be a Philadelphia 76er.
BREAKING: LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option, Klutch Sports Group and Klutch CEO and Game Over show host Rich Paul tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ALOlTkgdAV
So, I’m just going to type that again to allow you to truly soak it in.
LeBron James is going to be a Philadelphia 76er.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the four-time MVP and 22-time All-Star, will spend his 24th NBA season in the City of Brotherly Love. He will join Philadelphia on a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option.
Again, this is another opportunity for you to catch your breath and comprehend what is happening.
James, who will turn 42 in December, still appeared to have plenty left in the tank last season. In 60 games, he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 33.2 minutes per game. He slots in seamlessly with a starting group already featuring Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid. The biggest way he helps the Sixers is with his elite passing and basketball IQ. With so many mouths to feed, LeBron’s unselfish brand of basketball will be a very welcomed addition to the starting group.
James released a statement on social media following the announcement. You can read the full thread here, but here is a big highlight:
“This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship. I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time,” James wrote.
How they’ll manage James and Embiid throughout the regular season will be interesting to follow. With the presence of Maxey and Edgecombe, along with the headlining addition of Brown, games both former MVPs miss should be winnable.
The Summer of Mike Gansey continues. The Sixers’ new front-office boss has objectively had one hell of an offseason. Signing one of, if not the greatest player of all time is quite the cherry on top.
