LeBron James will play his 24th season of professional basketball with a new team — but it’s not the Denver Nuggets.
James, announced Friday morning that he will play for the Philadelphia 76ers next season in what he said will be his “last decision.”
“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 said.
that James is signing a two-year deal with the 76ers worth $8 million.
The Nuggets launched a campaign to recruit James to Denver after he and the Lakers agreed to part ways ahead of the NBA free agency moratorium. James, 41, has friends throughout the Nuggets’ organization, from team president Josh Kroenke to lead assistant coach Jared Dudley.
He also has deep admiration for three-time MVP center Nikola Jokic. The opportunity to team up with the Serbian big man was a critical selling point in Denver’s pitch to James, who, like Jokic, is regarded as one of the smartest players in the history of the sport.
The 76ers will be James’ fourth team, following the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers. James has four MVP trophies, four championships, 10 NBA Finals appearances, 21 All-NBA nods, six All-Defensive Team honors and an NBA Cup in-season tournament title. He averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 60 games last season.
With co-stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined by injuries, James led Los Angeles to a first-round upset of Houston in the playoffs.
The Cavs, Heat, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves were among the other teams that reportedly showed interest in signing James as a free agent, though his agent said recently he had been contacted by almost every team in the league.
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