LeBron James picks 76ers with 'last decision,' to sign 2-year deal

Superstar LeBron James is heading to the City of Brotherly Love.

James, 41, is signing a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN on Friday.

The 76ers will be the fourth team for James, who spent the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, highlighted by helping the franchise win the 2020 NBA title.

A four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and the league's all-time leading scorer, James completed his record-setting 23rd NBA season in 2025-26. He addressed his reasoning to return to the court on Friday in a series of posts on X.

"I thought I was done when the season ended. 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," James wrote. "I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love (playing)."

The 76ers certainly hope so as they seek to halt a 43-year championship drought. Their last title came in 1983 when they swept the Lakers in the best-of-seven series and their leading scorer was Moses Malone.

Per ESPN, 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey stayed in constant communication with Paul behind the scenes. The network also noted that Philadelphia players Tyrese Maxey, who is a fellow Klutch client, Joel Embiid and the newly acquired Jaylen Brown also worked on getting James aboard with the 76ers.

"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."

The 76ers posted a 45-37 record last season and advanced to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs before getting swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks.

The acquisition of Brown vaulted the 76ers into the 2027 NBA title conversation in the eyes of oddsmakers, and the addition of James has pushed them toward the front of the pack.

Shortly after the announcement of James' intention to sign with Philadelphia, the 76ers moved from +2000 to +900 at DraftKings to win the NBA championship next season. They also shifted from +750 to +370 to win the Eastern Conference and from +450 to +220 to win the Atlantic Division.

While James warmed up to the 76ers, that meant he left other suitors like the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat out in the cold.

The time he needed to make his decision also affected other aspects of the NBA offseason, including next season's schedule as well as key players' respective destinations.

"We have to finish up the schedule, and where LeBron plays affects the schedule," commissioner Adam Silver said last week at a CNBC event. "It will influence how we set the schedule -- opening week, Christmas. So I need him to make a decision."

James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds this past season with the Lakers. The 22-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion is the all-time leader in games (1,622) and points (43,440).

A native of Akron, Ohio, James was the No. 1 pick of his hometown team, the Cavaliers, in 2003. He played for the Cavs (2003-10, 2014-18) and the Heat (2010-14) before joining the Lakers.

He ended his comments on Friday with a shout out to fans in those cities.

"Thank you LA. Miami I'll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!"

--Field Level Media

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