NBA-LeBron James to join Philadelphia 76ers for record-extending 24th NBA season

July 24 : LeBron James has decided to join the Philadelphia 76ers for the final chapter of his NBA career, he said on Friday, forgoing bigger paydays for one more shot at a championship with a franchise that has not won a title in 43 years.

The league's all-time leading scorer, who had the basketball world on tenterhooks for weeks awaiting his decision on what team he would join for his record-extending 24th NBA season, delivered the news in a series of social media posts.

James spent the last eight seasons of his glittering career with the Los Angeles Lakers, leading them to a title in 2020 after two separate stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and four years with the Miami Heat.

"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 wrote on social media.

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

James did not disclose terms of the deal but ESPN reported that the four-time champion signed a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option.

The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player will join forces with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and recently acquired Jaylen Brown in a 76ers team that moved from 20-1 odds to win the NBA title to 10-1 after his announcement.

The Sixers made the 2026 NBA playoffs by securing the Eastern Conference's seventh seed through a play-in tournament before falling