LeBron James has made what he says will be the final decision of his NBA career, signing a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers after giving serious thought to retirement.
The 41-year-old announced Friday that he still has the passion to compete and believes he has one more championship run left. The deal, which includes a player option, marks a significant pay cut from the nearly $53 million he earned with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
In a series of posts on X, James reflected on the uncertainty surrounding his future following the 2025-26 season.
“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,” he wrote.
After taking time to evaluate his future, James said he realized he wasn’t ready to walk away.
“I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”
James said his decision to join Philadelphia was driven by one goal: competing for another NBA championship. The 76ers become the fourth franchise of his career as he pursues a fifth title while hoping to help end the team’s 43-year championship drought.
Calling it the last free-agency decision of his career, James made it clear that his motivation extends far beyond money.
“This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point?” James wrote. “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 another championship.”
James added that he believes he can help make the 76ers a championship contender and is excited to begin one final chapter with a new team and fan base as he enters a record-breaking 24th NBA season.
