The biggest drama of the NBA offseason has concluded and, unfortunately, the Golden State Warriors did not get a rose. On Friday morning, superstar LeBron James announced that he would be signing with the Philadelphia 76ers. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, with James announcing it on social media a minute later. Per Charania, it’s a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option.
James free agency dragged on for nearly a month after his shocking departure from the Los Angeles
Lakers after eight seasons. Reunions with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat seemed the most likely, but a pairing with Steph Curry and his close friend Draymond Green on the Warriors was a distinct possibility as well. As the month wore on, it appeared that those three, plus the Sixers and Minnesota Timberwolves, were the favorites, though no one was sure which way James was leaning.
Ultimately, it appears that James is chasing a chance at a fifth ring over anything else. He turned down far more lucrative offers, moved across the coast from his family, and didn’t opt for the glamor of Miami, New York, or LA, while picking a team that might become title favorites with him in the fold. In a thread on X, James, who revealed that he was very close to retiring at the end of the season, said, “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.”
James now joins a revamped Sixers team that has pulled off the two most shocking moves of the offseason: signing the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, and trading Paul George for Jaylen Brown. With James, Brown, former MVP Joel Embiid, star guard Tyrese Maxey, and breakout rookie V.J. Edgecombe, the Sixers are fielding a wildly competitive team. Ultimately, that was more appealing to James that staying in California and golfing with Curry and Green while playing for a presumably less competitive team.
The Dubs now will pivot to re-signing Green (who had opted out of his deal to facilitate a potential James signing), and using the mid-level exception to bolster the roster.
