ESPN reports LeBron James agreeing to two-year deal with Philadelphia 76ers; no official confirmation

ESPN reported Friday that LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, citing Rich Paul, James’ longtime agent and the CEO of Klutch Sports Group. “LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two‑year, $8 million deal with a player option, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania,” ESPN reported. As of 15:41:25 UTC on July 24, neither the 76ers nor James had publicly confirmed the reported signing on team channels, NBA transaction channels or verified social accounts.

If completed, the move would immediately become one of the NBA offseason’s biggest developments. James remains one of the league’s defining stars, and even at this stage of his career, his team choice carries outsized weight across the sport. For Philadelphia, the reported deal would add another headline move to an offseason in which the franchise has already been widely reported to have reshaped its roster.

Earlier in July, the 76ers were widely reported to have acquired Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics and signed guard Anfernee Simons. James had also been the subject of recent reports in late June and early July indicating that he would not return to the Los Angeles Lakers and was exploring options for the 2026-27 season. Against that backdrop, the reported terms are notable: a relatively modest, short-term agreement would fit a team that had already pushed its payroll higher with other major additions.

James is 41 and, if he plays in 2026-27, would be entering his 24th NBA season. Born on Dec. 30, 1984, he is a four-time NBA champion and a four-time regular-season MVP, credentials that underscore why any reported decision involving him commands immediate leaguewide attention. Even without a star-level salary attached, a move involving James is treated differently from a routine veteran signing because of his stature and record.

Still, the status of the move remained unchanged at the time covered by this report: ESPN’s account, published Friday by Shams Charania, attributed the information to Paul, but no official public confirmation from the 76ers or from James had been located as of 15:41:25 UTC. Until that changes, the reported agreement and its details remain attributed to ESPN’s reporting and Paul’s account rather than a team or player announcement.