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LeBron James contract details: Why NBA star took massive pay cut to join 76ers over Heat, Cavs, Warriors originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
LeBron James is headed to the City of Brotherly Love.
The 23-year veteran has agreed to a multi-year contract to join the Philadelphia 76ers as he searches for a fifth NBA Championship. James joins Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid on a Sixers team that will be one of the top contenders in the league next year.
James spent almost a month as a free agent, deciding between teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors. However, the 76ers came out the big winner and will be a prime candidate to unseat the New York Knicks at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Here's the latest on James' new contract in Philadelphia.
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LeBron James contract details
- Years: 2
- Value: $8 million
James is signing atwo-year deal worth $ 8 million to join the 76ers, his smallest contract since first entering the league as a rookie. The deal also includes a player option for the second season if he chooses to play that long.
How much money did LeBron James pass on to sign with 76ers?
Last year, James played for the Lakers for over $50 million, so he is taking around a $46 million pay cut to head to Philadelphia. The star viewed the 76ers as the best contender among those who were in the market to sign James during free agency.
James took the veteran minimum for a player of his caliber, which will count as $3.9 million against the cap for the two-year deal.
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76ers cap space
Most of the 76ers' cap space is tied up in Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey, who make over $163 million between the three of them. James now becomes the seventh-highest-paid player on the team, as V.J. Edgecombe, Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons will all make more than him as well.
The move means that Philadelphia is slightly over the first apron but can get back under by waiving back-of-the-roster players. James' pay cut allows the team to potentially avoid the first-apron portion of cap penalties.
Why LeBron james chose 76ers over Heat, Cavs, Warriors
James posted on social media that he believes he can be the final piece to a 76ers championship team in a way he wouldn't be for the Heat, Cavaliers or Warriors.
"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. "Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!"
The difference appeared to be Philadelphia acquiring Jaylen Brown, as Shams Charania reports that JAmes didn't seriously consider the 76ers until they traded for the star forward.
LeBron James stats
James has played his entire, 23-year career as a member of either the Cavaliers, Heat or Lakers, putting up tremendous numbers at all stops. The NBA's all-time leading scorer has averaged over 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in his career and has made more than half of his field goal attempts.
If James plays an entire season next year, he will hit 1,700 games played since joining the NBA.
| Team | Seasons | Games | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | FG% | 3P% |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2003-2010, 2014-2018 | 849 | 39.0 | 27.2 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 1.6 | 49.2% | 33.7% |
| Miami Heat | 2010-2014 | 294 | 38.0 | 26.9 | 7.6 | 6.7 | 1.7 | 54.3% | 36.9% |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 2018-2026 | 294 | 34.9 | 25.9 | 7.7 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 51.3% | 35.6% |
| TOTAL | 23 seasons | 1,622 | 37.6 | 26.8 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 1.5 | 50.7% | 34.8% |
LeBron James career earnings
James has earned more than $581 million in his NBA career, the most by any player in league history. Only Kevin Durant has also crossed the $500 million mark at this point in his career, although Stephen Curry should reach that milestone next season.
Most of James' earnings came with the Lakers, where he made more than $347 million over eight seasons, all during a period of rapidly rising salary caps. While James has played more games as a Cavalier, he has earned just over $169 million in Cleveland, largely because his first contract with the franchise was a rookie deal. James also earned more than $64 million during his four-year stint with the Heat.
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