LeBron James to Sign with 76ers: How Much Will He Earn and How Many Seasons Will He Play? NBA Legend’s Contract Explained

LeBron James’ future was uncertain after his time with the Los Angeles Lakers ended in June. However, that is over now. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is leaving Los Angeles after eight seasons to join the Philadelphia 76ers. James has agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract that includes a player option, according to ESPN.

James announced that his career is far from over and he will continue to perform. “I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn’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,” James tweeted on Friday morning.

New Beginning

“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. “I still truly love this game, and I have more to give. The last few weeks have really been special. I’ve never been able to have no clue what to do and take real time to just think,” James continued.

“I’ve had an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all out. 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? 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.

“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. Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!”

James’ move as an unrestricted free agent brings to an end the longest stint of his career with a single team. He spent eight consecutive seasons with the Lakers, surpassing the seven straight years he played with the Cleveland Cavaliers at the start of his NBA career.

He now joins a revamped Philadelphia 76ers squad that added 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown earlier this month. Brown joins a talented core that already includes All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey, 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid, and All-Rookie First Team selection V.J. Edgecombe.

Since signing with the Lakers in 2018, the 41-year-old James averaged 25.9 points, 7.9 assists, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game.

Final Countdown Begins

James, who will turn 42 in December, averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals during his record-setting 23rd NBA season. It was a campaign unlike any other in his career, as he missed the first 14 games with sciatica and later shifted into a third-option role behind Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves during the Lakers’ strongest stretch of the season.

When both Dončić and Reaves were sidelined at the end of the regular season and into the playoffs, James once again took on the lead role, guiding the Lakers past the Houston Rockets in a six-game first-round playoff series.

His eight-year run in Los Angeles cemented an already remarkable legacy. During his time with the Lakers, James earned eight All-Star selections, seven All-NBA honors, won the 2020 NBA championship and Finals MVP, and helped the franchise capture the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023.

He also made history on Feb. 7, 2023, when he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time regular-season scoring record of 38,387 points. James now holds the mark with 43,440 career regular-season points.

James joined the Lakers in 2018 after ending his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, signing a four-year, $154 million contract.

His first season in Los Angeles was disrupted by the first major injury of his career—a groin strain suffered on Christmas Day in 2018—which forced him to miss 17 consecutive games as the Lakers failed to reach the playoffs.

Next offseason, the franchise reshaped its roster by acquiring Anthony Davis and hiring Frank Vogel as head coach. The changes paid off immediately, with James leading the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship.

The relationship between James and the Lakers has seen its share of disagreements and difficult moments over the years. However, whenever the two sides reached a major crossroads, they always found a way to reunite.

This time, though, things were different.

The Lakers still wanted James back, but retaining him was no longer their top priority as they focused on building the perfect supporting cast around Doncic. After being traded to Los Angeles in February 2025, Doncic had taken over as the franchise’s new centerpiece, replacing James as the face of the team.