LeBron James surprises everyone with his next NBA team: he will play for the Philadelphia 76ers

LeBron James has a new team. After leaving his mark on the Cleveland Cavaliers —during two stints—, the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer will play the next two seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers. James himself confirmed this on Friday afternoon via his social media: “I believe I can help make the Sixers a championship team. I am very excited to get to know a new fan base and start this incredible journey together.”

Read more From host town to confinement due to smoke: the fire pandemic fills Cebreros with ash and fear of the wind

At 41 years old —he will be 42 before the year ends—, the Akron, Ohio native has admitted that he considered retirement once the Lakers’ journey in the last playoffs ended. “I thought the time had come,” he stated in an extensive thread on X that in less than 40 minutes had already surpassed five million views. “I wasn’t ready to announce something like that. I knew I needed time, but I was pretty convinced that I had played my last professional game. I was honest in that last press conference [with the Lakers]. I needed to look at myself and decide if I still loved the game that has given me so much.”

“These last few weeks have been truly special,” LeBron continued on his social media. “I had never been able to take real time to stop and think. I’ve had some incredible months where I’ve been able to get together with my people and try to figure out my situation. What’s clear is that I don’t do all this for money. I do it because I still want to sacrifice. I want to work. Strive. Compete. And win. I still want to win, to feel the thrill of chasing another championship ring.”

James, who signs with the Sixers for two seasons in exchange for eight million dollars —by far the least lucrative contract of his career, as he himself has made sure to highlight in his closest circles—, concluded his letter with a tweet of thanks to his three previous franchises: “Thank you, L.A.; Miami, I will always love you; and you, Northeast Ohio, will always be my home.”

Read more This is what the Madrid and Ávila wildfires look like from the air

The ‘Process’ makes sense again in Philadelphia

In the Sixers, the player with the most appearances in All-Star history (22) will be part of a starting five that, health permitting, will include Joel Embiid, NBA MVP in 2023, though diminished by incessant injuries, Jaylen Brown, a brand new signing from the Boston Celtics, where last season he averaged 29 points per game, and young Tyrese Maxey, a member of last season’s third-best lineup after posting 28 points and six assists per game, and V. J. Edgecombe, third in the last Rookie of the Year voting behind Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.

Since May 30, however, the day the 1955, 1967, and 1983 champions hired Mike Gansey as general manager, formerly in the Cavaliers’ front office, the Sixers have also gone to the market to finalize the additions of Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade, and Caleb Love, and to the draft to select the promising point guard Labaron Philon Jr. from the University of Alabama at pick 22. Conversely, Paul George (headed to the Boston Celtics as part of the Jaylen Brown trade), Kelly Oubre Jr. (to Indiana Pacers), and Trendon Watford (free agent) have exited.

LeBron thus signs with one of the few franchises that seemed to reach the final stretch of the saga with real options to entice him. “I’ve always said you have to trust the process [Trust The Process in English, the popular motto of the Sixers for years],” James anticipated last week on a podcast with fellow NBA player Tyrese Haliburton, something that, easily linked to the Philadelphia organization, elated the fans present at the New York recording. “Come on, guys, it’s a phrase I’ve always said, since my first day in the NBA,” the Ohio star downplayed with a wry smile on his face.

Just a few days later, the King has a new team. And in Philadelphia, he could become the first player in history to win an NBA championship ring with four different jerseys.

Read more PP and Vox exclude irregular migrants from aid and demand that officials “keep their face substantially uncovered”