LeBron James Joins 76ers for Record 24th NBA Season
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- LeBron James announced he is joining the Philadelphia 76ers for a record-extending 24th NBA season, becoming the first player in league history to reach that milestone.
- James, the NBA's all-time leading points scorer, wrote on X that this is his "last decision" and that he is "not going for money" but still wants to "compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship."
- The 41-year-old spent his last eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, leading them to the 2020 NBA title, after two stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and four years with the Miami Heat.
- James earned a league-record 22nd consecutive All-Star selection last February, averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists across 60 games in his most recent season.
- LeBron surpassed Robert Parish's record for most career regular-season games played in March and last season shared a court with his son Bronny.
- James, who announced at the end of June he was leaving the Lakers, will turn 42 in December and told 76ers fans he is "so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time."
Why it matters: The NBA's all-time leading scorer is betting that Philadelphia offers his best shot at a fifth title in what he calls his final decision, after passing on a longer or more lucrative fit to chase one more ring. His departure closes an eight-year Lakers tenure that included a 2020 championship and cements the first 24th-season player in league history — a milestone reached at age 41, with the league's oldest active player now leading a new Eastern Conference contender.
