The Philadelphia 76ers have officially announced the signing of LeBron James, the four-time NBA MVP and four-time champion, on a two-year veteran's minimum deal worth $8 million total. The 41-year-old described the move as his "last decision" after seriously considering retirement at the end of last season.
James, a 22-time All-Star and 21-time All-NBA selection, departs the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons — delivering one championship in 2020 — to join a loaded core featuring Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey. The franchise hasn't won an NBA title since 1983 and hasn't advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 2001.
"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," James wrote on social media on Friday. The Sixers went 45-37 last season and were swept in the second round by the eventual champion New York Knicks.
James signed a two-year deal with a player option on the second year, reports confirmed. His average salary with the Lakers was $50.7 million per season — a dramatic pay cut compared to the $8 million total of his new contract. Forbes ranks him fourth on its real-time list of wealthiest athletes at $1.4 billion.
In his 23rd NBA season, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. His career averages stand at 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists across more than 1,600 games. He has won championships with three different franchises (Miami Heat 2012-13, Cleveland Cavaliers 2016, Los Angeles Lakers 2020) and could become the first player to win a ring with four different teams.
76ers president Mike Gansey, hired in late May after Daryl Morey's departure, has known James since their high school days in Ohio — Gansey was runner-up for Ohio's Mr. Basketball award in 2001, losing to a then-17-year-old James. "LeBron is a consummate professional, the ultimate competitor, and a tireless worker," Gansey said.
James chose Philadelphia ahead of Cleveland, Golden State, Minnesota and Miami, all of whom had been linked as potential destinations. The signing represents the most seismic free-agent move of the 2026 offseason and turns the Sixers into one of the most watched teams in the league heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
Sources
- https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-76ers-james-lebron-907643397fbff99592d7aed5d5a6fbb8
- https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cx27r0me3zno
