In brief
James signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers, earning about $3.9 million this season — roughly the same as rookie Labaron Philon at $3.6 million.
Philadelphia added Jaylen Brown in a trade for Paul George and already had Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and coach Nick Nurse, who won a title with Toronto.
The 76ers have not won an NBA title in 43 years, the fifth-longest active drought among franchises that have previously won a championship.
The defending champion New York Knicks, a healthy Boston Celtics team and the 60-win Detroit Pistons all stand between Philadelphia and the Finals.
James can become the first player to win a championship with four different franchises, and a fifth title would tie Kobe Bryant's total.
- 2014Returns to Cleveland; leads Cavaliers to 2016 title.
- 2018Joins Los Angeles Lakers; wins fourth championship in 2020.
- 2026Signs with Philadelphia 76ers on two-year, $8 million deal.
The decision
LeBron James announced on Friday, July 24, that he will finish his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 41-year-old signed a two-year, $8 million contract, with the second season a player option. His annual $3.9 million salary roughly matches that of 76ers rookie Labaron Philon ($3.6 million). James, the NBA's all-time scoring leader with 43,440 points and a four-time MVP, said he is still driven by competition and sacrifice.
“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.”
Why Philadelphia
Philadelphia had been swept by the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs a few months earlier, but a summer overhaul transformed the roster. President of basketball operations Mike Gansey engineered the acquisition of Jaylen Brown from Boston in exchange for Paul George. Brown joins Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, rookie VJ Edgecombe and coach Nick Nurse, who won a title with Toronto. The Sixers have not won a championship in 43 years.
“I'm not going there for money, I'm not going there for family. I still want to sacrifice, to work, to win and to have a chance to feel what it's like to win another title.”
Other suitors
James considered returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he began his career in 2003 and won the 2016 title, or going back to the Miami Heat, with whom he won championships in 2012 and 2013. Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry were also in the mix. He passed on all of them, picking what his camp saw as the strongest basketball fit.
The path in the East
James re-enters an Eastern Conference far different from the one he dominated for eight straight Finals trips before 2018. The defending champion New York Knicks rolled to a title with 13 consecutive playoff wins and a record postseason point differential. Boston won 56 games without a fully healthy Jayson Tatum and improved its center rotation with Mitchell Robinson. Detroit's 60-win core remains intact, led by Cade Cunningham.
Roster outlook
Philadelphia's starting five, Maxey, Brown, James, Embiid and Edgecombe, has no obvious weak spot on paper. The LeBron-Embiid pick-and-roll is expected to cause matchup problems, and Brown will be freed from the pressure of scoring 30 points every night. The Sixers now rank among the top title contenders, though Embiid's durability remains the central question.
- LeBron James
- 3900000 $
- Labaron Philon
- 3600000 $
Data from the article text
The move creates the possibility that James could become the first player to win a championship with four different franchises, and a fifth ring would tie him with Kobe Bryant.