76ers Make Major Announcement! James Officially Joins Team, Will Wear No. 23 Jersey for the Upcoming Season

On July 27 (Beijing time), Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey announced the team's acquisition of LeBron James, a four-time NBA champion and four-time regular-season MVP. Per Shams, James agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option for the second season and a 15% trade bonus. James will don the No. 23 uniform for the 76ers.

James is the NBA's all-time leading scorer with 43,440 career points. He also holds two other records: 21 All-NBA selections (13 First Team) and 22 All-Star nominations. Throughout his four championship runs, he won Finals MVP each time (Miami 2012, 2013; Cleveland 2016; Los Angeles 2020), becoming the first player in NBA history to win Finals MVP with three different teams.

Managing partner Josh Harris said: "I wholeheartedly welcome LeBron James to the Philadelphia 76ers. He is one of the greatest players in NBA history and one of the top athletes of all time, with a legendary resume: 4 championships, 4 MVPs, 4 Finals MVPs, 3 Olympic gold medals, NBA all-time leading scorer, and records of 22 All-Star appearances and 21 All-NBA selections. I can't wait to see LeBron team up with Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and the rest of the squad to compete for a championship in Philadelphia. To LeBron and your family: Thank you for choosing the 76ers. We look forward to starting a new chapter in your legendary career. Welcome to Philadelphia!"

James is the only player in NBA history to accumulate at least 10,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists. Playing for the Cavaliers, Heat, and Lakers over a record 23 seasons, he appeared in 1,622 regular-season games (1,620 starts), averaging 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, with a 50.7% field goal percentage, while averaging 37.6 minutes per game. The 2003 No. 1 overall pick out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, set a remarkable streak: 1,297 consecutive games scoring in double figures from January 6, 2007, to December 1, 2025. As the 2003-04 Rookie of the Year, he also ranks first all-time in field goals made (15,961), fourth in assists (12,016), fifth in triple-doubles (125), and sixth in steals (2,417).

James has won four regular-season MVP awards, tying him with 76ers legend and Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain for fourth-most in NBA history.

Gansey said: "There's no doubt that LeBron is one of the greatest players in basketball history, and the impact he can have on this team is immeasurable. I've known LeBron since high school and have seen him perform at the highest level at every stop of his career. He has extreme dedication, a competitive spirit, and always works hard. At the same time, he has outstanding character, natural leadership, values family, and consistently gives back to the community and treats everyone well. We are thrilled to have him officially join, and we warmly welcome Savannah and the entire James family to the 76ers family."

James has led his team to the playoffs in 19 seasons (tied for the most in history). The Ohio star has played in 302 playoff games, the most all-time, averaging 28.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game, with a 49.5% field goal percentage, while averaging 41.2 minutes per game. He holds the records for most playoff points (8,521), playoff wins (188), and playoff series victories (42). He also holds the records for most playoff games with double-digit scoring (300), 20+ points (268), and 30+ points (123).

Before joining the 76ers, James played for the Lakers in the 2025-26 season, averaging 20.9 points on 51.5% shooting, extending his record of consecutive seasons averaging 20+ points to 23. That season, he averaged 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, playing 33.2 minutes per game, and recorded 17 double-doubles and 3 triple-doubles. In April, he was named Western Conference Player of the Week, bringing his career total to 70 such awards, extending his league record.

James has represented the USA men's basketball team in international competitions, winning three Olympic gold medals (four total Olympic medals), standing on the top podium in 2008, 2012, and 2024.