LeBron James: The Decision, Round Two
LeBron James is a Philadelphia 76er. The announcement came Friday, in a message James posted himself on X, which he called his “last decision.”
The deal is a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. James chose Philadelphia over the Cavaliers, the Heat, and several other teams that pursued him this offseason.
This will be his 24th NBA season. No one has played more.
What Almost Wasn’t
James turns 42 in December. He said retirement crossed his mind before free agency even started.
“I thought I was done when the season ended,” James said. “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.”
He didn’t retire. His agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN he had spoken with 27 teams about James this summer, calling the decision “pressure free” for a player who has already won everything he set out to win.
The Roster He’s Walking Into
Philadelphia’s projected starting five now reads: James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and VJ Edgecombe.
It is a roster built with urgency. The 76ers haven’t won a championship since 1983 and haven’t advanced past the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs since 2001. Adding James is a statement about how much patience is left.
The Numbers That Got Him Here
Last season with the Lakers, across 60 games, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds, shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 73.7 percent from the line. He made the All-Star team for a record 22nd consecutive time.
The numbers say he still belongs on the floor. The decision says he still wants to be there.
