After eight seasons in Los Angeles, LeBron James begins the 2026/27 season in a new uniform, having signed with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer in one of the most closely followed free agency sagas in recent NBA history.
## Why He Left the Lakers
James informed the Lakers on June 30, 2026, that he would not return for the new season, ending the longest single stretch he’s spent with any franchise across his 23-year career. After weeks of deliberation between Philadelphia, Golden State, Cleveland and Miami, James ultimately chose the Sixers, reportedly influenced by Philadelphia’s blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown and his existing relationship with Klutch Sports client Tyrese Maxey.
## Joining a Loaded Roster
James now plays alongside Brown, Joel Embiid and Maxey in one of the league’s most talked-about roster experiments. Our full free agency and trade roundup breaks down exactly how Philadelphia’s roster came together this offseason.
## Still Performing at an Elite Level
Even at 41 years old, James remains a highly effective player, having averaged 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game during last season’s playoff run with the Lakers against Houston and Oklahoma City. His combination of continued production and unmatched experience made him a coveted free agent target despite his age.
## A Historic Return to Los Angeles
One of this season’s most anticipated moments comes on Christmas Day, when James returns to Los Angeles as a visiting player for the first time in his career, an emotional milestone in a Sixers uniform against his former team.
## Chasing Continued History
Already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, James continues to extend his own scoring record with every game played this season, a milestone our records tracker follows closely alongside other historic pursuits around the league.
## The Bottom Line
However this Philadelphia experiment unfolds on the court, James’s decision to leave the Lakers after eight seasons marks a genuine turning point, both for his own storied career and for the two franchises now shaped by his choice.