LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8m deal that includes a player option. Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul confirmed the terms of the agreement to ESPN, and James addressed the move in a post on X on Friday morning, saying it came after he strongly considered retirement.“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,” he said.The move pairs the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and the newly acquired Jaylen Brown as Philadelphia bolster their roster in pursuit of a first NBA championship since 1983. James arrives after spending the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.The deal gives James the flexibility to become a free agent again after one season while limiting the 76ers’ long-term financial commitment. James made nearly $53m with the Lakers last season.The 41-year-old wrote in his X post that he believed he was “done” and had played the final game of his storied NBA career before deciding to sign with Philadelphia for a record 24th season.“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,” James rote. “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.“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. 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.”The 76ers went 45-37 last season and were swept in the second round of the playoffs by the eventual champion New York Knicks. They have been active this offseason, acquiring Brown, a five-time All-Star and the 2024 Finals MVP, earlier this month via trade. They have not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 2001.Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, pictured in a 2018 game between the Celtics and the Cavaliers, will be teammates in Philadelphia. Photograph: Cj Gunther/EPAJames is a four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and the league’s all-time leading scorer. He is the NBA’s oldest active player and averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists for the Lakers last season. His announcement at the end of June that he would not return to the Lakers led to much speculation about his next destination, with Golden State, Cleveland and Miami – he led the latter two teams to championships – all floated as potential landing spots.The signing will become official once it is completed under NBA rules.“Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!” James said in his post.