LeBron James has signed his contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
ESPN reports that James has put pen to paper and signed the previously agreed upon two-year contract with the 76ers worth nearly $8 million. The deal includes a player option plus a full 15% trade kicker, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
He returns to the Eastern Conference after spending the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers before departing during the offseason as a free agent.
After 24 days from the start of the NBA’s free agency period, James committed to Philadelphia on Friday, July 24.
“I thought I was done when the season ended,” James shared on his social media accounts. “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.”
James reportedly had several other suitors interested in adding him to their respective rosters, including the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.
In his last appearance on the court, he produced a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds in 40 minutes of play during his last appearance for the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on May 11. The Lakers' season concluded with a 115-110 Game 4 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Will Bronny James join LeBron in Philly?
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that agent Rich Paul made it clear that Bronny James and LeBron “are not a package deal” and there was no plan in place to reunite them in Philly.
The father and son duo spent the past two seasons as teammates in Los Angeles.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James signs contract with Philadelphia 76ers | Report
