LeBron James is a Philadelphia 76er.
The 23-year NBA vet joined the Sixers on a two-year, $8 million deal, his agent Rich Paul told ESPN's
Shams Charania; LeBron confirmed his decision on social media Friday. He joins a promising young core in Philly that just added superstar Jaylen Brown earlier in free agency.
According to
Spotrac, the deal is two years, $7.95 million, and includes a player option in 2027. It also includes a trade restriction prohibiting him from being moved until December.
"I thought I was done when the season ended,"
he wrote of his decision to keep playing in the first place. "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. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and deicide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give."
Being one of the greatest players to ever set foot on a basketball court made him an attractive free agent to every team in the NBA, and the center of national attention despite multiple high-profile trades and signings already. And LeBron certainly had his pick of the litter when it came to finding the perfect situation. By early July, he had narrowed it down to
five real contenders: Philadelphia; the Miami Heat, with whom James had won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013; the Cleveland Cavaliers, by whom he was drafted first overall in 2003 and whom he led to a championship in 2016; the Denver Nuggets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"The last few weeks have really been special. I’ve never been able to have no clue what to do and take real time to just think. I’ve had an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all out."
$4 million dollars in annual salary is a massive pay cut for The King, whose last two-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers was worth $101 million. But LeBron said his "last decision" is not about money or any other factor except the love of the game.
"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. 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 home!"
