Joselito Malig

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: LeBron James speaks onstage during the mind the game panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 16, 2026 in New York City.   Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics/AFP (Photo by Roy Rochlin / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Article (news)

Fanatics Fest NYC 2026

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784908497598_FanaticsFestNyc2026.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">LeBron James speaks onstage during the mind the game panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 16, 2026 in New York City. Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics/AFP/file </span></span></span></div><p>(UPDATED) LeBron James announced on Friday he will play for the Philadelphia 76ers next season, with the 41-year-old NBA superstar hoping to transform another franchise into a championship team.</p><p>James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, has won four titles in a 23-year career, most recently with the Los Angeles Lakers, who he said earlier this month he would not return to for the 2026-27 campaign.</p><p>James led the Miami Heat to NBA crowns in 2013 and 2014, brought his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers a title in 2016 and delivered a championship for the Lakers in 2020.</p><p>He&#x27;s looking to make the same magic happen in what Rich Paul, James&#x27;s agent, tells ESPN will be a two-year deal worth $8 million.</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; James posted on X.</p><p>The NBA legend was considering several clubs but will join a 76ers team that traded for forward Jaylen Brown from Boston and boasts a lineup that will also include star center Joel Embiid and guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.</p><p>James averaged 20.9 points a game for the Lakers last season and said he was considering retirement strongly when the campaign concluded.</p><p>&quot;I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn&#x27;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,&quot; James posted on X.</p><p>&quot;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.&quot;</p><p>Paul played up the potential clubs James could join during more than three weeks of mystery about where he might sign.</p><p>Would James return home to Cleveland, return to Miami, possibly join pals Stephen Curry and Draymond Green at Golden State? Would he find another contender to boost?</p><p>&quot;This is my last decision,&quot; James posted. &quot;I&#x27;m not going for money. I&#x27;m not going for family.</p><p>&quot;What am I really playing for at this point? 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.&quot;</p><p>James did send his regrets to some of his other suitors, posting: &quot;Thank you LA. Miami I&#x27;ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always be home!&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>LeBron James announced on Friday he will play for the Philadelphia 76ers next season, the 41-year-old NBA superstar hoping to turn another team into a championship club.</p>

LeBron James announced on Friday he will play for the Philadelphia 76ers next season, the 41-year-old NBA superstar hoping to turn another team into a championship club.

LeBron James says he will play for Philadelphia 76ers

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LeBron James says he will play for Philadelphia 76ers

Agence France-Presse

Published July 24, 2026 11:58 PM PHT

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Updated July 25, 2026 12:33 AM PHT

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