LeBron James is headed to Philadelphia.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, agent Rich Paul told him the four-time MVP has agreed to join the Sixers on a two-year minimum-salary contract that includes a second-year player option. Klutch Sports Group later confirmed the move in an announcement.
James addressed the decision himself in a social media post, saying, “I thought I was done when the season ended,” and explaining that he needed time before making a final call. He added, “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 decide if I still love this game.”
He said the answer was yes. “I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.
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.”
James framed the move as a chase for one more title run, not a payday. “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 also made clear why Philadelphia appealed to him. “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 L.A. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always (be) home!”
James’ future had been one of the biggest questions of the offseason ever since June 30, when it became known that he had told the Lakers he would not re-sign after eight seasons in Los Angeles. He didn’t have a destination lined up then, and spent more than three weeks weighing his choices.
By the first week of free agency, reports said James and Paul had trimmed the field to the Heat, Cavaliers, Warriors, Timberwolves, Nuggets, and 76ers. On a recent episode of his “Game Over” podcast, Paul said James “loves” Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey, who is also a Klutch client, and pointed to new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey as another factor. James and Gansey know each other from their high school days in Ohio, and Gansey was in Cleveland’s front office during James’ second stint with the Cavaliers.
Even with Charania reporting in recent weeks that James appeared to be leaning toward Eastern Conference teams, the expectation around the league was that a return to one of his former teams made more sense than a deal with Philadelphia. Cleveland was viewed as the early favorite, and Miami had recently moved ahead of them as the betting favorite.
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