LeBron James sure made everybody wait long enough, but after plenty of teasing about where the NBA star is going to end his career, James has finally announced his news to the world.
James, at the age of 41, is starting over with a new franchise. On Friday, July 24, he announced that he’s heading to Pennsylvania to play for the Philadelphia 76ers to end his NBA career.
This marks the final free-agency decision of his storied career. Frankly, James’ contract says just as much as the destination.
Inside LeBron James’ contract details with the Philadelphia 76ers for 2026
James announced Friday that he’s signing with the 76ers, and it’s a two-year, $8 million contract that includes a player option for the second season, according to a report from EPSN. That’s a stunning change for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, who earned nearly $53 million with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Bleacher Report, he’ll earn $3,876,529 during the 2026-27 campaign, with the player option worth $4,070,355 for the 2027-28 season.
Marks added that the “contract is the veteran minimum exception.”
So, after the deal becomes official, James will be tied with DeAndre Jordan as the 298th-highest-paid player in the NBA for the 2026 season, according to research from Basketball Reference. That’s quite a bargain for the 76ers.
The numbers tell the story. For the first time in years, James isn’t looking for that massive paycheck. Instead, he wants to end his career with another NBA championship.
In his series of posts on X, James admitted he wasn’t sure he wanted to keep playing after last season. He said he needed time to figure things out. But, he did. That answer led him to Philadelphia, where he’ll suit up for the fourth franchise of his career.
