LeBron James Joins Philadelphia 76ers in What He Calls His ‘Last Decision’/TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ LeBron James announced that he is joining the Philadelphia 76ers after seriously considering retirement following his 23rd NBA season. The 41-year-old is expected to sign a reported two-year, $8 million contract, a steep reduction from the nearly $53 million he earned last season. James will join Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown as Philadelphia pursues its first NBA championship since 1983.
PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James is joining the Philadelphia 76ers for what he says will be the final move of his NBA career.
The league’s all-time leading scorer announced his decision Friday on social media after spending eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.
James described the move as his “last decision” and said he believes Philadelphia can compete for a championship.
The four-time NBA champion said he believed he was “done” when his 23rd season ended.
He had acknowledged after the Lakers’ playoff elimination that he needed to determine whether he remained passionate about playing.
James is expected to sign a two-year contract worth $8 million, according to ESPN.
The agreement represents a significant salary reduction from the nearly $53 million he earned during his final season with Los Angeles.
James said money and family considerations did not drive the decision.
James celebrated his move with an Instagram highlight video set to Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill’s “Dreams and Nightmares.”
The song has become an unofficial anthem for the city’s professional sports teams.
Fanatics quickly listed James’ No. 23 Philadelphia jersey for $125. Delivery was not expected until late August.
Philadelphia has not won an NBA championship since 1983.
The franchise has also failed to advance beyond the Eastern Conference playoff semifinals since 2001.
James previously ended a major championship drought when he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2016 NBA title, delivering the city its first major professional sports championship in 52 years and the Cavaliers’ first title.
The Sixers now hope he can produce a similar ending in Philadelphia.
James joins a team expected to feature one of the NBA’s strongest starting lineups.
Philadelphia’s core includes:
Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, arrived from the Boston Celtics in a major offseason trade.
He is a five-time All-Star and was the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer last season.
Maxey reacted by posting an Instagram video showing him celebrating inside a gym and repeatedly yelling, “what!? what?!”
Brown responded on X with “#throwtheballup.”
The phrase originated in Brown’s introductory message to Philadelphia and has since appeared on billboards around the city.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro proclaimed Friday as LeBron James Day.
The declaration reflected the immediate excitement surrounding the arrival of one of basketball’s most accomplished players.
New Sixers team president Mike Gansey, who was a prominent Ohio high school player during James’ youth, had already reshaped the roster through the Brown trade.
James’ arrival became the organization’s biggest offseason move.
The Sixers finished last season with a 45-37 record before being swept by the eventual champion New York Knicks in the second round.
Following James’ announcement, most betting sites listed Philadelphia at 9-1 to win the championship.
The Sixers ranked behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Knicks among the leading contenders as of Friday afternoon.
James spent eight seasons with the Lakers after joining the franchise in 2018.
The period was highlighted by the 2020 NBA championship, the fourth title of his career.
He previously won championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013 and Cleveland in 2016.
Cleveland and Miami were reportedly among the options James considered before choosing Philadelphia.
James is the oldest active NBA player at 41.
He is already the only player in league history to complete 23 seasons. His first season in Philadelphia will extend that record to 24.
James began his NBA career with Cleveland in 2003. He played seven seasons there before joining Miami for four years.
He returned to the Cavaliers for another four seasons and then moved to Los Angeles.
James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game during his final Lakers season.
Across more than 1,600 career games, he has averaged:
His career honors include 22 All-Star selections, 21 All-NBA selections and four Most Valuable Player awards.
James is also a four-time NBA Finals MVP, three-time All-Star Game MVP and member of the league’s 75th anniversary team.
For what he says will be the final chapter of his career, James’ professional home will be Philadelphia.
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