By Variety | Created at 2026-07-24 17:48:44 | Updated at 2026-08-03 02:15:15
1 week ago
LeBron James is taking his talents to Philadelphia.
The 41-year-old star basketball player has left the Los Angeles Lakers and has signed with the 76ers in a two-year, $8 million deal, according to ESPN.
“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,” James wrote on X.
The 76ers are owned by NBCUniversal parent company Comcast, which is rooted in Philadelphia. As a team, the 76ers for decades have been an laggard in the NBA. James is the kind of superstar who can light up ticket sales. Plus, NBCUniversal is heavily invested in NBA TV rights as of last year, building a big portion of NBC’s primetime schedule and streamer Peacock’s pitch to consumers around the league’s regular season games.
Last year, the 76ers unveiled plans to build a new stadium in the heart of South Philadelphia for the 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers NHL team. The facility is scheduled to open in 2031.
In a thread posted to the social media site, James said that he initially thought he would retire after the 2025-2026 NBA season. “I thought I was done when the season ended,” James wrote. “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.”
James said he spent the last few weeks deciding what to do.
“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 concluded his remarks by thanking the city of Los Angeles, where he played eight seasons with the Lakers (winning one championship), saying he will “forever love” Miami, where he played four seasons on the Heat (winning two titles) and declaring “Northeast Ohio will always [be] home!” After his stint in Miami, James returned to his home team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning a championship in 2016.
James was making about $50 million per year on the Lakers, meaning he is taking a massive pay cut to move to the 76ers, where he will join Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Philadelphia is James’ fourth team, where he will look to win his fifth championship.
