LeBron James is taking his talents to South Philadelphia.
The NBA's all-time leading scorer announced Friday he is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million veteran minimum contract, calling the move his "last decision" after weeks of speculation about his future.
"First, I thought I was done," James wrote on social media. "Last press conference felt heavy, like walking off the floor one final time. But I still truly love this game, and I have more to give. 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 41-year-old's decision ends a months-long saga that began when the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs in May. James spent eight seasons in Los Angeles, winning the 2020 NBA championship in the Orlando bubble. He had reportedly narrowed his choices to Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, and a return to the Lakers before ultimately choosing Philadelphia.
James joins a 76ers roster already loaded with star power. The team features Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, second-year standout VJ Edgecombe, and newly acquired Jaylen Brown — the 2024 NBA Finals MVP acquired in a blockbuster offseason trade with the Boston Celtics. The Sixers went 45-37 last season and were swept in the second round by the eventual champion New York Knicks.
The financial terms underscore James's mindset. After earning nearly $53 million last season, he accepted the veteran minimum — roughly $8 million over two years — signaling that winning, not money, drives his final chapter.
"LeBron coming here is something I talked about with him 12 years ago," Embiid said in a statement. "The fact that he chose Philly, that he wants to sacrifice and grind with us — it means everything."
James becomes the biggest free-agent signing for a Philadelphia sports franchise since Bryce Harper joined the Phillies in 2019. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro proclaimed Friday as "LeBron James Day" in the state. Fanatics sold out of his No. 23 76ers jersey within hours of the announcement.
The 22-time All-Star averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists this past season. For his career, he averages 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists across more than 1,600 NBA games.
Philadelphia has not won an NBA title since 1983 and hasn't advanced past the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs since 2001. James previously ended championship droughts in Cleveland (2016) and Los Angeles (2020), suggesting he could be the catalyst to break another long wait.
"Hold up, wait a minute. Y'all thought I was finished?" James's own Instagram highlight reel, set to Meek Mill's "Dreams and Nightmares," asked. The video ends with a 76ers logo. The answer, apparently, is no.
Sources
- https://apnews.com/article/lebron-james-76ers-1db738a3a8c29aab2be24b1bc8082ae9
