LeBron James will join the Philadelphia 76ers after agreeing to the largest single-season salary reduction in NBA history, multiple reports confirmed.
The four-time champion earned $52.63 million with the Los Angeles Lakers last season. His new two-year deal in Philadelphia will pay $3.88 million in 2026-27, representing a $48.75 million drop from his most recent salary.
When announcing his decision on Friday, the 39-year-old forward emphasized that finances were not a factor. “This is my last decision. I’m not going for money,” James wrote.
According to league sources cited by NBC News, James believed the 76ers offered the clearest path to a fifth championship. Other suitors reportedly included the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors.
In Philadelphia, James will team up with Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe, creating a roster widely viewed as a title contender on paper. The veteran’s minimum contract also simplified the 76ers’ salary-cap constraints, giving the club flexibility it lacked for a larger offer.
James, who turns 42 in December, has indicated the 76ers will be the final stop of a 23-season career that has already generated more than half a billion dollars in NBA earnings.
Source: Hoops Wire
