LeBron James To Sign With 76ers: NBA Legend Will Leave L.A. and $37 Million Mansion for $8 Million Deal With Philadelphia

Basketball legend LeBron James has agreed to sign a new contract with the Philadelphia 76ers—less than a month after he left the Los Angeles Lakers.

James, 41, who is originally from Ohio, announced at the end of June that, while he would be pursuing another season in the NBA, he would be doing so with a new team, sparking furious speculation about what team that might be.

Initially, reports suggested that he was weighing up offers from the Miami Heat, the Golden State Warriors, and his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he confirmed in a series of posts shared on his X account on July 24 that he has now determined his next landing spot, announcing that he will join the 76ers for the upcoming season.

"I thought I was done when the season ended," he said. "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."

James went on to pay tribute to his family and friends who have allowed him the time he needed to "just think" about his next move.

"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 out," he continued.

While the athlete did not address the specifics of his deal, ESPN reports that he will sign a two-year contract with the 76ers that is worth $8 million—a significant cut from his latest Lakers salary, which saw him earn a reported $52.6 million in his final season.

James did, however, note in his social media post that he did not factor money into his decision making—instead focusing on choosing a team that he believes can win a championship with his help.

"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 another championship," he said.

"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 L.A. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!"

James' agent, Rich Paul—who is engaged to pop star Adele—told ESPN that his client's move had been motivated solely by his "basketball happiness," citing this as the reason for his departure from the Lakers.

The basketball pro previously sparked furious speculation about his future with the L.A. Lakers—and his position in the NBA—after the team was knocked out of 2026 championship contention by the Oklahoma City Thunder in May.

James achieved many NBA firsts during his time with the team, however. He and his son, Bronny, made history as the first father-son duo to play together in 2024, one year before the sporting superstar became the first 40-year-old in the league to score 21 points in a single game.

Yet for all the incredible milestones the athlete has celebrated throughout his career and the fact that he is still one of the more talented players in the NBA, questions were still being asked about whether he would continue to play professionally.

Leaving Los Angeles will also mean walking away—at least temporarily—from his $37 million real estate investment in California: an extraordinary custom Beverly Hills mansion that he has spent the past several years constructing.

James bought the massive 2.72-acre hilltop parcel for a whopping $36.8 million in 2020. Then he razed the existing home—a Mediterranean-style dwelling that had been built in 1934—to clear the way for a massive modern estate that has been under construction for nearly three years.

Previous images obtained exclusively by Realtor.com® revealed the evolution of the sporting star's opulent abode, which he began building late in 2023 and which will feature multiple structures when it is completed.

Planning applications seen by Realtor.com reveal that James received permission to turn the original 2.72-acre parcel into two separate plots, each of which will be home to its own jaw-dropping mansion.

The two residences will share a communal driveway, which will be secured by a guardhouse stationed at the entryway—and each will be given a new address.

According to planning documents, the larger of the two homes will span close to 16,000 square feet across two stories and will include a 7,700-square-foot basement garage. There will also be a two-level garage built on the ground level.

That larger dwelling will feature a pool in the backyard as well as a spa.

Other extraordinary amenities being installed at the home include an outdoor kitchen and solar panels, which will ensure the property can be powered even in the event of a grid outage.

The second dwelling will be a 6,550-square-foot single-story abode that will boast a basement home theater, an entertaining area, and a ground-level two-car garage.

That property will feature a sizable terrace that will take full advantage of the awe-inspiring vistas.

Wellness has also been factored into the second dwelling, which will be equipped with hot and cold-plunge pools, as well as a spacious courtyard in which palm trees have already been planted.

The two homes, although located on separated "irregularly shaped" parcels, according to the planning documents, will share a common outdoor space with a huge water feature at the center of a large motor court.

They will also be protected by a 209-square-foot guardhouse, which will be stationed at the start of the lengthy driveway—while an intricate alarm system and 10-foot-high perimeter fencing add to the extensive security measures being taken to protect the compound.

James has enlisted a team of industry experts to complete the project—including luxury planning pros Crest Real Estate and renowned architecture firm Walker Workshop, which has been responsible for designing some of Los Angeles' most luxurious and cutting-edge residential properties.

While it was originally reported that the estate would serve as the primary residence for James, his wife, Savannah, and their children, it may well be that his decision to build a second home on the property means that he is planning to offer it to his elder son, Bronny.

Given that he is only committing to spend two years in Philadelphia, it's likely that the extraordinary residence will remain James' primary home—but what is currently unclear is whether he will commit to purchasing property in the Pennsylvania city.

Whether he chooses to buy or rent, the athlete has some time to make up his mind, with the next NBA season currently set to kick off in early October, although James will likely have to be in Philadelphia before then in order to start training.