LeBron James Signs Two-Year, $8 Million Deal with Philadelphia 76ers

LeBron James is officially a Philadelphia 76er.

The 76ers and James announced the move Monday, formalizing one of the NBA offseason’s biggest free-agent decisions after reports last week that James would join Philadelphia on a two-year, $8 million deal. The team declared the signing in a social media post cited by NBA.com: “LEBRON JAMES IS A PHILADELPHIA 76ER.”

The deal matters not simply because of James’ résumé, but because of the scale of the financial sacrifice and the timing of Philadelphia’s push to win now. James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, a four-time MVP and a four-time Finals MVP, is entering his 24th season in 2026-27. He is doing so on what has been widely described as a veteran-minimum-style contract, a steep drop from his roughly $52.6 million salary in 2025-26.

ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported July 24, citing Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, that James was signing with the 76ers on a two-year, $8 million contract. Charania reported that the deal includes a player option for the second season, though Philadelphia’s announcement Monday made the signing official without publicly detailing those terms.

James had already revealed his choice on social media, describing it as his “last decision.” In posts reproduced by NBA.com, he wrote: “I thought I was done when the season ended… I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”

That decision gives Philadelphia one of the most decorated players in league history and adds him to a roster built around center Joel Embiid, the former league MVP, and guard Tyrese Maxey, the team’s ascending backcourt star. The 76ers had already transformed their outlook earlier this month by acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster trade, creating the kind of top-end talent base that made Philadelphia a credible destination for James.

In another post reproduced by NBA.com, James framed the move in championship terms: “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.”

League transaction listings reflected the mechanics of the move Monday, showing James’ signing and Philadelphia’s waiver of guard Dalen Terry in a related roster move. The details of salary-cap maneuvering are secondary to the larger point: the 76ers have spent this month assembling a roster designed to compete immediately, and James’ willingness to sign for far less than his recent market value is central to that effort.

Before arriving in Philadelphia, James played for Cleveland, Miami, Cleveland again and the Los Angeles Lakers, where he spent the 2018-19 through 2025-26 seasons. Now, in what he has suggested will be the final chapter of his career, he joins a franchise still chasing its first NBA title since 1983.

If Philadelphia breaks through, the accomplishment would carry added historical weight. Contemporary coverage has noted that a championship with the 76ers would make James the first player in NBA history to win titles with four different franchises. For now, what is no longer in doubt is the move itself: after days of anticipation, James is a Sixer, and Philadelphia’s all-in offseason has its biggest name.