June 30, 2026. That’s the day LeBron James‘ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, told the Los Angeles Lakers that the leading scorer in NBA history would not return to the franchise with the second-most championships in league history.
One day later, the Philadelphia 76ers agreed to acquire 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics — who have the most championships in NBA history — in a blockbuster deal that ultimately pushed James to sign with the franchise one of his closest friends, Allen Iverson, used to play for.
“The Jaylen trade pushed LeBron to sign with Philly,” a source told Dallas Hoops Journal.
This summer was the first time since 2018 that James was an unrestricted free agent. The 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat were the four teams the NBA legend seriously considered signing with before ultimately joining Philadelphia.
Had the 76ers not traded for Brown, James would not be in Philadelphia.
“LeBron would not be on the 76ers right now if they didn’t get Jaylen,” a source told Dallas Hoops Journal. “That was the move that made this all happen.”
When James’ son, Bronny James, was playing in Summer League for the Lakers in 2024, Brown was caught on camera saying, “I don’t think Bronny is a pro.” Sources said LeBron was not happy about what Brown had to say about his son, who nearly died in July 2023 when he suffered a cardiac arrest during a basketball workout at the University of Southern California.
LeBron thought a player of Brown’s caliber would understand that it would take Bronny time to regain confidence and rhythm on the basketball court after such a traumatic event, sources said.
When the 76ers acquired Brown, many people around the NBA speculated that the move would prevent them from getting LeBron. However, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal at the start of July that LeBron and Brown have moved past their differences and are on good terms, so much so that Brown — along with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey — heavily recruited LeBron to the City of Brotherly Love this summer.
LeBron didn’t tell Paul about his decision to sign with the 76ers until one hour past midnight on July 24. King James kept going back and forth between Philadelphia, Miami and Cleveland, sources said.
While LeBron has always wanted to play with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green and living in San Francisco would have allowed him to be close to his wife and daughter in Los Angeles, LeBron never seriously considered joining the Warriors, sources said.
“It was between Miami, Philly and Cleveland for LeBron,” a source told Dallas Hoops Journal. “He’s already won in Miami and Cleveland. He wanted a new challenge and wants to bring Philly a ring.”
The 76ers have never advanced past the second round of the playoffs in the Embiid era. That will likely change next season with LeBron in the fold next to Embiid, Maxey, Brown and VJ Edgecombe.
Arguably the best player in NBA history, LeBron appeared in 60 games last season, his 23rd year in the NBA. He averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game.
In the 2026 playoffs against the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron put up 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. He’s still an elite performer despite being the oldest active player in the NBA.
LeBron, who has been in the NBA since 2003, is a four-time MVP, four-time champion and four-time Finals MVP. He’s the all-time leader in points, field goals, minutes and games and has made 21 All-NBA teams and 22 All-Star teams.
LeBron, 41, holds career averages of 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game in the regular season and 28.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game in the playoffs with the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers. He won the 2012 and 2013 championships with the Heat, the 2016 championship with the Cavaliers and the 2020 championship with the Lakers at the Walt Disney World Bubble.
As expected, LeBron will wear No. 23 with the 76ers. The future Hall of Famer, who signed a two-year, $8 million contract with Philadelphia, turns 42 in December. He has a player option for the 2027-28 season.
The 76ers are not getting prime LeBron, but they are still getting a very, very good player. It will be fascinating to see how far Philadelphia goes next season.
