NBA superstar LeBron James has announced he will join the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year contract after deciding against retirement, describing the move as the “last decision” of his illustrious career.
The 41-year-old confirmed the decision in a post on social media on Friday, ending his 23-year stint with the Los Angeles Lakers as he embarks on what he says will be the final chapter of his NBA journey.
James said he believes he can help transform the 76ers into championship contenders.
“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,” he wrote.
The four-time NBA champion revealed that he had seriously considered retirement after the 2025–26 season, admitting he initially believed he had played his final game before rediscovering his passion for basketball.
“I was pretty sure I played my last game. 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,” he wrote.
“I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”
According to ESPN, James is expected to sign a two-year contract worth $8 million—a substantial reduction from the nearly $53 million he earned during the previous season.
Explaining the motivation behind his decision, James said financial considerations were not a factor.
“I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family,” James wrote.
“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.”
James joins a Philadelphia franchise seeking to end a decades-long wait for NBA glory. The 76ers have not won an NBA championship since 1983 and have failed to advance beyond the Eastern Conference semi-finals since 2001.
He is expected to team up with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown as Philadelphia aims to mount a serious challenge for the NBA title in the coming seasons.
