LeBron James left the Los Angeles Lakers after last season and what his next club would be was the big talking point in the basketball world during the summer.
Among several other clubs, it was rumoured that the 41-year-old would become a teammate of Swede Pelle Larsson in Miami. But that didn't happen, and the choice fell on Philadelphia instead.
Close to ending career
"I believe I can help make Philadelphia a championship team," James wrote on X.
James also writes that he was close to ending his career after last season.
"I was pretty sure I had played my last game. I was honest at the last press conference when I said I needed to examine myself and decide if I still loved the sport," he writes.
Going down in salary
Philadelphia hasn't won an NBA title since 1983 and hasn't advanced past the second round of the playoffs since losing in the finals in 2001. Now, however, Philadelphia is making a big move, and James will be teamed with superstars like Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown. The latter most recently played for Boston, but changed teams this summer in a high-profile trade.
James' contract is for two years and is worth about $77 million, according to ESPN. He earned nearly $53 million, or about $510 million, last season in Los Angeles, according to the AP.
LeBron James is the best scorer in NBA history, has won four titles and has been named the NBA's Most Valuable Player four times.
Born: December 30, 1984 (age 41).
Length: 206 centimeters.
Position: Small forward.
Team: Philadelphia
Former teams: Cleveland Cavaliers 2003–2010, Miami Heat 2010–2014, Cleveland 2014–2018, Los Angeles Lakers 2018–2026.
Merits: NBA's all-time leading scorer. NBA champion 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2020. NBA Most Valuable Player 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. NBA Finals MVP 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2020. NBA All-Star 22-time selection. Olympic gold medalist with the United States in 2008, 2012 and 2024.
Statistics for the 2025–2026 season: 20.9 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game and 7.2 assists per game.
