After seriously contemplating retirement, NBA all-time leading scorer LeBron James has chosen to extend his legendary career, announcing his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers for what he calls his final run.
The 41-year-old superstar made the surprise announcement on social media after stepping away at the end of his 23rd NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Despite potential returns to Miami, Cleveland, or a move to Golden State, James opted for Philadelphia on a modest two-year, $8 million veteran’s minimum contract, turning down far lucrative offers to chase one last title.
”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 said.
”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,” James wrote. “I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”
”I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family,” James wrote. “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.”
James celebrated the move on Instagram with a career highlight reel set to Meek Mill’s “Dreams and Nightmares,” culminating with the line, “hold up, wait a minute. Y’all thought I was finished?” before revealing the 76ers logo. Demand exploded immediately, with Fanatics selling out of his No. 23 jersey within hours.
The move marks another massive offseason acquisition for new 76ers team president Mike Gansey, following a blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown. James now joins a stacked lineup alongside Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe as Philadelphia seeks its first NBA championship since 1983.
Reactions poured in quickly across the state, with Maxey posting a video celebrating the news, Brown posting “#throwtheballup” on X, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro officially proclaiming Friday as “LeBron James Day.”