LeBron James Signs With 76ers on Two-Year, $8 Million Deal in His “Last Decision”

LeBron James is heading to Philadelphia. The 41-year-old superstar announced Friday that he is signing a two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers, ending a 25-day free agency saga and closing the book on his eight-season run with the Los Angeles Lakers. James called it “my last decision,” setting up a 24th NBA season that will be played for the first time in the Eastern Conference since he left Cleveland for Los Angeles in 2018.

James made nearly $53 million with the Lakers last season, making the pay cut to a veteran’s minimum deal one of the most striking parts of the move. His agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, confirmed the agreement to ESPN’s Shams Charania, and the deal includes a player option for the second season. In a series of posts on social media, James explained that he seriously considered retirement after the 2025-26 campaign before deciding he “still truly love[s] this game” and has “more to give.” He thanked the Lakers, Miami and Cleveland by name, adding that “Northeast Ohio will always be home.”

Why Philadelphia Won the LeBron Sweepstakes

James beat out a group of suitors that reportedly included the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. According to league sources, his decision came down to a single question he posed to himself: where could he win a fifth championship? The 76ers, who have quietly transformed their roster over the past month, provided the answer. Philadelphia already had Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and rookie guard VJ Edgecombe in place, then added Jaylen Brown in a trade that sent Paul George to Boston. That move alone pushed the Sixers’ championship odds at DraftKings from +5500 to +2200, tying them for the fifth-best mark in the league.

James will now play for a fourth franchise, joining a core built around Embiid, Maxey, Brown and Edgecombe under head coach Nick Nurse. His accepting the minimum salary allowed Philadelphia to add him without a sign-and-trade or further roster disruption, a value the team’s front office has already been credited for engineering since hiring Mike Gansey as president of basketball operations in late May. James will try to end a 43-year championship drought in Philadelphia, the same way he ended a 52-year title drought for Cleveland when he won a championship with the Cavaliers in 2016.

Reaction From the Sixers and What Comes Next

The Philadelphia locker room reacted quickly. Maxey posted celebratory videos to social media, while Brown wrote “#throwtheballup” on social media, a phrase that has since appeared on billboards around the city. Notably, trading card company Topps, a Fanatics-owned partner of James, broke the signing news first, marking what’s being described as the first time an athlete’s new team was revealed through a trading card release rather than a traditional media report.

One storyline was addressed directly: James’ son, Bronny, will not be joining him in Philadelphia. Paul, who represents both James, told ESPN that “they are not a package deal” and that there is no plan for Bronny to sign with the Sixers. As for how long the veteran’s run in Philadelphia lasts, Charania has reported there is “a real chance” James plays out both years of the contract. James will turn 42 by the end of the deal, and questions about retirement will inevitably resurface, but for now, the league’s all-time leading scorer is chasing one more ring in a city that has waited decades for a parade.

The 76ers open the DraftKings odds board as a legitimate top-five contender in the East, and sportsbooks are expected to continue adjusting Philadelphia’s futures markets as training camp approaches. Bettors weighing early NBA championship futures can check the current DraftKings promo code offer before markets shift further on the news.