National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran LeBron James ended speculation about his future on Friday with an announcement that is he moving from Los Angeles to Philadelphia — a decision that will also give NBC access to one of basketball’s biggest starts across its local and national sports properties.
James agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract that includes a player option, his agent Rich Paul told ESPN. The deal represents a substantial reduction from the nearly $53 million James earned with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
The 41-year-old announced the decision Friday after spending much of the offseason considering retirement. James will return for a record-setting 24th NBA season, extending his own league record and surpassing the 22 seasons played by Vince Carter.
“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,” James wrote on social media.
The move places James alongside a roster that includes Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown, who joined Philadelphia through an offseason trade with the Boston Celtics. The 76ers have not won an NBA championship since 1983 and have not reached the NBA Finals since 2001.
James said he initially believed his career had ended after his 23rd season but determined that he still wanted to compete.
“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,” James wrote.
The signing also creates a significant television opportunity for NBC: The Peacock Network has the local television rights to Philadelphia 76ers games by way of its regional sports network NBC Sports Philadelphia, which will showcase James during what is likely the final stage of his professional basketball career.
It also boosts the value proposition of Peacock in the market, with NBC’s nationally-televised NBA games available through the service and NBC Sports Philadelphia available to local subscribers as an add-on package. NBC’s national TV agreement with the league began last season.
James spent eight seasons with the Lakers after joining the franchise in 2018. He helped Los Angeles win the 2020 NBA championship and leaves as the league’s all-time leading scorer. The Lakers are expected to continue building around Luka Dončić.
Philadelphia will become James’ fourth NBA franchise following two stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and runs with the Miami Heat and Lakers. He has won four championships, four regular-season Most Valuable Player awards and four NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards.
