After more than three weeks, LeBron James’s free agency has come to an end. According to ESPN, the 4-time NBA MVP is signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers, which will include a player option.
Shortly after the story broke, James confirmed the news on social media, while also sharing that he entered the offseason believing he would retire.
“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,” he wrote. “I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”
James’s decision marks the culmination of a free agency that first began when he announced that he wouldn’t be returning to the Lakers for a ninth season with the franchise. The ensuing weeks saw the Akron, Ohio, native largely linked to the Cavaliers, Heat, and Warriors, as his agent, Rich Paul, repeatedly addressed his star client’s free agency on his Game Over podcast.
In the first episode of the podcast that was released after NBA free agency began, Paul did mention the Sixers as a candidate, specifically pointing to James’s affinity for star point guard Tyrese Maxey. Signing the NBA’s all-time leading scorer marks Philadelphia’s second big splash this summer, after the Sixers previously acquired All-Star swingman Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster trade with the Celtics.
“How could you not have the attention when you have Maxey, [V.J.] Edgecombe, Brown, and [Joel] Embiid?” Paul said of James’s interest in the Sixers, while also noting his relationship with Philadelphia’s new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey.
In signing with Philadelphia, James joins the fourth team of his record 24-year NBA career following previous stints in Cleveland (2003-2010, 2014-18), Miami (2010-14), and Los Angeles (2018-2026). In his social media posts, James indicated that this will be the final free agency of his career.
“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,” he wrote. “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.”
