NBA superstar LeBron James will not be packing his bags for Miami again, as he has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
James made the announcement on social media Friday, saying it will be his “last decision” and that it comes after he strongly considered retirement.
“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 said.
The news comes after social media erupted earlier this week after the Miami Heat’s social media account briefly posted a link to a YouTube livestream titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference,” scheduled for July 27.
The post was quickly deleted, but not before fans captured screenshots and began sharing them across social media, fueling speculation that James could be headed back to South Beach.
The Heat addressed the situation, telling ESPN that the team’s social media department was preparing for the possibility of James signing with Miami and accidentally published the link.
James, 41, first joined the Heat in 2010, creating a championship contender alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
During his four seasons in Miami, the team reached the NBA Finals every year from 2011 through 2014, winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. The Heat became only the third team in NBA history to make four-consecutive Finals appearances.
The 2012 title marked the first championship of James’ career, and the 2013 Heat became one of the league’s most dominant teams, winning 27 consecutive games during the regular season before defeating the San Antonio Spurs in a dramatic seven-game Finals series.
James left Miami in 2014 and returned to Cleveland, where he later delivered the Cavaliers their first NBA championship in 2016.
But even though James will not be heading to Miami, Heat fans are still rejoicing over Giannis Antetokounmpo signing with the team.
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Heat fans can also call 786-777-4375 for more information on how to purchase tickets for the 2026-2027 season.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
