The old king is still not satisfied. LeBron James' 'Decision' surprises everyone — turning 42 next December, heading into the 24th season of his NBA career: not to his home in Cleveland, not with friends Curry and Green on the San Francisco Bay, not a return to Miami, but toward the unlikely destination of Philadelphia. A choice driven not by money, but by the desire to win one last time.
With the 76ers, he will complete a star-studded starting five alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Jaylen Brown — a team that, even before the former Celtic's arrival, was shaping up as one of the Eastern Conference's teams to beat, and that can now harbor legitimate ambitions for the championship.
"I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a title contender. I'm truly excited to bring new energy to a new fan base and embark on this incredible journey one last time," wrote the veteran from Akron, Ohio, who is settling for a two-year contract (1+1) worth eight million dollars total in exchange for a competitive team. "This is my last decision, I'm not doing it for the money," wrote the four-time NBA champion. "I thought I was done when the season ended, I wasn't ready to announce it and I knew I needed time to truly decide, but I was fairly certain I had played my last game. Instead, I still love this game deeply, and I still have a lot to give."
The longest-serving player in the top American league's history and its all-time leading scorer, among the select few who contend for the impossible-to-settle title of greatest player of all time, LeBron thus adds an unprecedented chapter to his journey that began in his near-native Cleveland, passed through Miami, back to Ohio, and then to Los Angeles. With every team he has won at least one title: two with the Heat in 2012 and 2013, one with the Cavaliers in 2016, one with the Lakers in 2020.
In Philadelphia he will have the opportunity to keep that tradition alive, while also making a meaningful on-court contribution.
James is coming off a season in Lakers colors averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game — still elite numbers regardless of age, let alone considering he is 41 years old. Now LeBron wants to push the boundaries of the possible even further to claim his fifth ring, and a title that Pennsylvania has been without since 1983.
A surprise move, in this summer of false trails, that once again defines his greatness — and an ambition that has few equals in the history of sport.
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA
