PHILADELPHIA: NBA superstar LeBron James has announced he will join the Philadelphia 76ers, ending his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and beginning what he described as the final chapter of his illustrious career.

The 41-year-old made the announcement on social media on Friday, revealing that he had seriously considered retirement after completing his 23rd NBA season before deciding to continue playing.

“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.

James admitted he initially believed his career had come to an end after the Lakers’ season concluded.

“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 decide if I still love this game,” he said. “I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”

According to ESPN, James is expected to sign a two-year contract worth approximately $8 million with the 76ers—a significant pay cut from the nearly $53 million he earned with the Lakers last season.

Explaining his decision, James emphasized that financial rewards were no longer his priority.

“I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family,” he wrote. “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.”

James joins a Philadelphia team aiming to end a decades-long championship drought. The 76ers have not won an NBA title since 1983 and have not progressed beyond the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs since 2001.

His arrival strengthens an already star-studded roster featuring All-Stars Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown, giving Philadelphia one of the league’s strongest starting lineups and raising expectations for a serious NBA title challenge in the upcoming season.