LeBron James has just signed with the Philadelphia 76ers after his eight-year run with the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the most shocking free agency moves in NBA history. The 41-year-old confirmed the move himself on X (formerly know as twitter) on Friday, taking a two-year, $8 million veteran’s minimum deal with a player option.
The pay cut is staggering: James made $52.6 million with the Lakers 2025/2026 season, meaning his new deal represents a heavy drop of roughly $48 million, over 90% of his prior salary. League cap mechanics forced the number, since Philadelphia’s roster, already loaded with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and newly acquired Jaylen Brown, left the Sixers nothing beyond a minimum-salary slot to offer.
LeBron broke his signing decision in a lengthy statement, saying he genuinely believed his career was over after last season at Lakers. “I still truly love this game, and I have more to give,” he wrote, adding that this would be his “last decision” and that he wasn’t after money or family ties, just one more shot at a championship.
The move capped a dramatic back-and-forth. Prediction markets were definitely caught off guard, with Kalshi giving Philadelphia just an 8.7% chance hours before the announcement. Combined trading on James’s next destination topped $245 million across Kalshi and Polymarket, one of the largest markets in Kalshi’s history, yet almost none of that volume was on Philadelphia.
There’s also a lingering subplot among fans: reports suggest the Lakers are now seeking real trade value for James’s son, Bronny, with speculations that LeBron could eventually push for a reunion with Bronny in Philadelphia down the line.
