费城76人队官方宣布，勒布朗·詹姆斯以退役老将最低薪标准签约两年，合同总价800万美元[1]。这位NBA历史得分王在社交媒体上表示，这是他职业生涯最后一次做出选择[1]。詹姆斯表示"我相信我能帮助费城76人队成为总冠军球队，我很兴奋能为一个新球迷群体注入活力，最后一次开启这段不可思议的旅程"[1]。
76人队总裁迈克·甘西表示詹姆斯的加入将对球队产生重大影响[1]。甘西曾于5月底被76人队聘用，他与詹姆斯都是俄亥俄州篮球明星，詹姆斯在2001年获得俄亥俄州篮球先生，甘西当年获得该奖项亚军[1]。
詹姆斯现年41岁，将在12月满42岁[1]，是NBA历史得分王、22次入选全明星、4次总冠军得主[1]。上赛季战绩为45-37的76人队在第二轮被纽约尼克斯队横扫[1]。
LeBron James has joined the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year deal worth $8 million at the veteran minimum salary [1]. The move represents what James described as his final professional choice, stemming from serious retirement considerations [1]. "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," James stated [1].
The 76ers' president Mike Gansey highlighted the significance of James' arrival for the franchise [1]. James, who will turn 42 in December, remains NBA's all-time leading scorer and has earned 22 All-Star selections and four championship titles throughout his career [1]. The 76ers finished last season with a 45-37 record before being swept by the New York Knicks in the second round [1].
The partnership carries additional resonance given the Ohio roots both James and Gansey share. Gansey, hired by the 76ers in late May after serving as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, won the runner-up award for Ohio's Mr. Basketball in the same year James won the honor in 2001 [1].