NBA superstar LeBron James has agreed to sign a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. The deal includes a player option for the second season.
In a post on X, James, 41, said he chose Philadelphia not for the money, but because he wants a shot at winning another NBA title.
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.
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. Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!
In 60 appearances with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, while playing on a contract for almost $53 million.
For his upcoming 24th NBA season, James is now headed to a 76ers team fresh off making the blockbuster trade for All-Star Jaylen Brown. The duo will join guard Tyrese Maxey and big man Joel Embiid to establish a new nucleus of star power in Philadelphia and attempt to capture the 76ers’ first NBA title since 1983.
Philadelphia went 45-37 last season before falling to the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs.
As a fun aside, James will now be teammates with several former Portland Trail Blazers players in Philadelphia. Anfernee Simons, Jabari Walker, Trendon Watford, Rayan Rupert and Caleb Love are all under contract with the 76ers.
