NBA legend LeBron James has announced he will join the Philadelphia 76ers on what he says will be the final contract of his illustrious career.
The 41-year-old, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, confirmed the move after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers last month, ending an eight-year spell with the franchise.
James had been linked with several teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miami Heat, before opting for Philadelphia.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energise a new fanbase and start this incredible journey one last time,” James wrote on X.
The move marks another chapter in a remarkable career that has already seen James win four NBA championships, two with the Miami Heat, one with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and one with the Lakers.
Miami briefly fuelled speculation earlier this week after accidentally posting a link to what appeared to be an introductory press conference for James. The franchise later said the video had been uploaded in error while staff prepared for the possibility of his return.
James began his NBA journey with Cleveland after being selected first overall in the 2003 Draft. He famously delivered the Cavaliers’ first NBA title in 2016 before joining the Lakers in 2018, where he won another championship in 2020.
A four-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), James has also been selected as an NBA All-Star in each of the past 22 seasons, further cementing his status as one of basketball’s greatest players.
Although he hinted after last season that retirement was near, James said his passion for the game ultimately convinced him to continue.
“I still truly love this game and I have more to give,” he said.
According to ESPN, James has signed a two-year deal worth $8 million, with a player option for the second season, a significant pay cut from the estimated $50.7 million annual salary he earned with the Lakers last season.
“I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family,” James said. “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.”
Philadelphia will hope the veteran’s arrival can end its long wait for another NBA title. The 76ers reached last season’s Eastern Conference semi-finals before losing to eventual champions, the New York Knicks, and have since strengthened their roster by acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Paul George and future draft picks.
LeBron James remains one of the NBA’s biggest global ambassadors, with a huge following in Nigeria, where basketball continues to grow through the NBA Africa initiative and grassroots programmes. His move to Philadelphia is expected to generate significant interest among Nigerian basketball fans, many of whom have closely followed his career for more than two decades.
