Thursday, October 1, 2026
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LeBron James agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers after choosing the franchise over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and several other contenders, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
James, 41, drew interest from at least 10 teams before ultimately choosing Philadelphia following an aggressive recruiting effort led by Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and the organization's front office.
The financial commitment is among the most surprising aspects of the deal. After earning more than $52 million with the Lakers last season, James accepted a two-year deal worth the veteran minimum of $3.9 million this season, with a player option for the second year.
James has earned well over half a billion dollars in NBA salary during his career, giving him a level of financial flexibility few players in league history have enjoyed. Throughout the offseason, James’ camp, particularly his agent, Rich Paul, has consistently maintained that his priority was competing for another championship rather than maximizing salary.
Shortly after making his announcement, James explained his decision through a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter.
"This is my last decision," James wrote. "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."
Philadelphia aggressively reshaped its roster after being swept in the second round by the eventual champion New York Knicks. The blockbuster trade that brought Brown to the city transformed the Sixers into a potential contender in the East, but it also helped the Sixers become a realistic destination for James.
James is no longer at the peak of his powers, but he remains one of the game’s smartest offensive players and is a high-level facilitator, rebounder and scorer. He projects as Philadelphia's starting power forward, giving the team another capable offensive initiator while reducing the playmaking burden on Maxey and Embiid.
With James in the fold, Philadelphia projects one of the NBA's most talented starting lineups, pairing him with Maxey, Brown, Embiid and second-year wing VJ Edgecombe. The move immediately places the Sixers among the Eastern Conference favorites entering the 2026-27 season.
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