LeBron James has officially chosen the Philadelphia 76ers as the next chapter of his legendary NBA career, agreeing to a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option. The agreement marks the smallest contract James has signed since entering the league in 2003 and ends weeks of speculation following his decision to enter free agency after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers.
The move gives Philadelphia one of the greatest players in NBA history while providing James with another opportunity to compete for an NBA championship.
LeBron says the move is about winning another title
James announced the decision through a series of posts on X, explaining that financial considerations played no role in his choice.
“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 41-year-old earned $52.6 million with the Lakers last season and has made more than $583 million in on-court salary during his NBA career, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His decision to accept a significantly smaller deal reflects his focus on competing rather than maximizing earnings.
James joins a Philadelphia roster led by former MVP Joel Embiid, All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, rookie V.J. Edgecombe, and newly acquired star Jaylen Brown, giving the 76ers one of the league’s strongest lineups heading into the new season.
Philadelphia believes LeBron can end its championship drought
The signing has energized Philadelphia, with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro even declaring July 24 as LeBron James Day, according to local reports.
The 76ers have not won an NBA championship since 1983, despite reaching the 2001 NBA Finals behind Hall of Famer Allen Iverson. James now has an opportunity to help end that four-decade title drought while chasing another historic milestone.
Already the NBA’s all-time scoring leader and a four-time champion, James could become the first player in league history to win NBA championships with four different franchises. He previously won titles with the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers.
With one of basketball’s most accomplished careers already secured, James has made it clear that his final seasons will be defined by one goal: competing for another championship rather than adding to his record-breaking earnings.