LeBron James is heading to Philadelphia. The 41-year-old announced Friday that he is joining the 76ers, ending weeks of speculation about where he would play next and whether he would play at all.
According to The Sporting News, James came very close to walking away from the game entirely before making his decision.
"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 said. "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 move sets up one of the more anticipated storylines of the coming NBA season. James will face the Lakers twice during the regular season, once in Los Angeles and once in Philadelphia. That is standard for interconference play, as each NBA team faces cross-conference opponents twice per season.
The matchups will draw extra attention because of James's long history with the Lakers franchise. The situation could become even more layered depending on whether Bronny James, his son, remains on the Lakers roster and sees court time against his father.
The NBA is expected to release its 2026-27 schedule in mid-August. That is when James will learn the exact dates of both games against his former team.
