Philadelphia's two biggest rivals paved the way for the signing of the NBA's all-time leading scorer LeBron James made a decision on his future Friday, electing to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers with a two-year deal that will likely be the final spot of his historic NBA career. The word spread fast in Philadelphia after LeBron James made a post on social media announcing he was joining the 76ers.
The King is headed to Philadelphia and here's how oddsmakers have reacted to the news Philadelphia wasn’t the obvious destination for LeBron James. That may be exactly why it makes perfect sense for a player who has always prioritized fit over sentimentShould we have seen this coming all along?
LeBron James knew that joining the Golden State Warriors would have been a losing gamble on the health of players five times closer to the ends of their careers than the beginnings. He knew the Cleveland Cavaliers, however strong their analytics, hopelessly lacked the unquantifiable greatness of a championship team. He knew the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Miami Heat were too unproven to hitch his wagon to.Of course he knew.
King James announced he will be joining the Philadelphia 76ers, an Atlantic Division rival, for the 2026-27 NBA season. Any time the Celtics and Sixers meet next season will likely draw huge ratings. LeBron James is headed to Philadelphia as a free agent, joining forces with ex-C’s star Jaylen Brown, former MVP Joel Embiid and other marquee names.
That ends the weeks-long free agent saga with James looking to win his fifth NBA championship. LeBron picked the Sixers over the Cavaliers, Heat, Warriors and Wolves, so how do our NBA writers grade his choice?
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