By Kenneth Miller | Publisher
The DECISION is in! Former Lakers great, four-time NBA Champion and iconic record holder LeBron James has selected the Philadelphia 76ers as his final playing destination in a illustrious 23 year career, it announced on social media.
“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. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and deicide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”
After spending 8 years with the Lakers, and realizing the team had fully turned its attention to a younger core of players led by Luka Doncic, he first had to decide if he was going to retire, a real possibility he said or continue chasing championships.
LeBron chose to continue the chase, instead of resting on his laurels. He allegedly selected Philadelphia over Cleveland, Miami and the Golden State Warriors and in continuing his chase, accepted a pittance two-year $8 million sacrifice, declaring that this time it’s not about the money, and he’s not doing this for family (obviously his daughter is in middle school), he is doing this for him.
I am sure the Lakers wish he had that same mindset a few years ago when his massive $51 million salary was an albatross around the neck of the franchise.
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. I’ve had an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 24, 2026
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
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 24, 2026
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!
Critics will scoff at LeBron hop scotching from team to team, and while he went to one that arguably has a good chance to come out of the east, he ran from the hardest test which was to stay out west and deal with OKC and the Spurs.
Perhaps it was his belief in the system, and development of player led by assistant coach Rico Hines.
When healthy one can debate Joel Embiid is the best center in the league, that had to be an attraction.
In the end, LeBron took his ball and ran. Instead of making the same sacrifices and staying, oh not in LA, but in Cleveland where it all started.
In the end would not have mattered how many rings you won, but where you won it and how you allowed the process to work.
You are worth at least $60 million a year, but you took $8 million without giving a definitive conclusion to the rabid Philly fans, and oh you will learn about that the day this decision goes left.
I am a big fan of yours and believe that you are the greatest of all time, but I would have respected you more had you just called it a career.
What’s to prove?
