The NBA’s all-time leading scorer announced on Friday on social media that he is headed to the Philadelphia 76ers, closing the book on one of the most anticipated free agency decisions in league history.
Breaking: LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option, his agent Rich Paul told @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/MT9OQfgd2T
— ESPN (@espn) July 24, 2026
James agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, ESPN’s Shams Charania said, citing James’ longtime agent Rich Paul. The number is a huge pay cut from the $50 million James was making annually with the Los Angeles Lakers, showing that the opportunity to compete for a title trumped a bigger payday at this stage of his career.
“I feel like I can help this team win a championship, and I’m so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time,” James wrote in a social media post explaining his decision. He also gave thanks to the three cities that have defined his career, writing, “Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home.”
The move ends an eight-season run in Los Angeles, which included a championship in 2020, and comes after James told the Lakers before free agency opened that he intended to leave.
He had interest from at least 10 teams including his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat before choosing Philadelphia
At 41 years old and heading into his 24th NBA season, James is the first player in league history to play for four different franchises with a real chance at a fifth championship, this time with Embiid, Brown and Maxey in the Eastern Conference.
