James hopes to take title magic to Philadelphia after moving to 76ers

LeBron James announced on Friday that he will compete for the Philadelphia 76ers next season, with the 41-year-old NBA superstar hoping to transform another franchise into a championship team.

James, the league's all-time scoring leader and a four-time Most Valuable Player, has won four titles over a 23-year career, most recently with the Los Angeles Lakers.

But the player nicknamed "King James" revealed on June 30 that he would depart Los Angeles as a free agent, sparking a rampant frenzy of speculation about his next team.

"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," the veteran forward posted on social media.

James helped lead the Miami Heat to NBA crowns in 2013 and 2014, propelled his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers to the top in 2016 and lifted his most recent trophy with the Lakers in 2020.

He will now try to become the first player to win titles with four different clubs by recreating the same magic over what his agent, Rich Paul, told American sports broadcaster ESPN will be a two-year deal worth $8 million.

The NBA legend was considering several teams before opting to join the 76ers, who recently added forward Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics to a lineup that already included star center Joel Embiid, along with talented guards Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe.

"This is my last decision," wrote James, who had made three prior heavily scrutinized free agent moves in his career.

"I'm not going for money. I'm not going for family," he added. "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."

James did express regrets to some of his other suitors, posting: "Thank you L.A. Miami, I'll forever love, and Northeast Ohio will always be home!"

The 76ers have reached the playoffs in eight of the past nine years, but failed to advance beyond the second round, the same stage at which they bowed out following a four-game sweep this past season against eventual champions the New York Knicks.

Philadelphia last reached the NBA Finals in 2001, losing to the Lakers in five games despite the impressive individual efforts of Allen Iverson, and last raised the trophy in 1983, when the iconic Julius Erving powered a stunning sweep against the Lakers.