"Was Certain to Retire," LeBron Changes His Mind, Forfeits Salary Up to 67 Billion Won... Reason for Choosing Philadelphia: "Not Money, Not Family, But Championship"

*This content was translated by AI.

'King' LeBron James has reversed his thoughts on retirement and will continue his playing career with the Philadelphia 76ers. He forfeited a salary of approximately 67 billion won compared to last season. Yet, there was only one reason for choosing Philadelphia: winning the championship to cap off his playing career.

Reuters reported on the 25th (Korean time) that LeBron has made his "final decision" and is joining Philadelphia to challenge for a championship once again.

LeBron announced his move to Philadelphia directly via his social media on this day. Previously, he had indicated last month that he would not re-sign with his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, thereby becoming a free agent (FA) for the first time since 2018.

Following this, his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves, entered the race to sign LeBron. After fierce competition, Philadelphia was the team that received LeBron's final choice.

LeBron stated, "This is my final decision. I am not going for money. I am not going for family. At this point in time, I pondered 'What do I truly play for?'"

He continued, emphasizing, "I still want to sacrifice, continue training, and dedicate myself. I still want the opportunity to compete, win, and feel the thrill of a championship once again."

He also clearly explained the reason for choosing Philadelphia. LeBron wrote, "I believe I can help make Philadelphia a championship team," and added, "I am very excited to bring energy to new fans and start this amazing journey one last time."

In fact, LeBron decided to move to Philadelphia even while forfeiting an enormous salary. According to ESPN, LeBron signed a two-year contract worth $8 million (approximately 12 billion won) with Philadelphia. The contract reportedly includes a player option for the second year. The average annual amount is approximately $40 thousand won (about 6 billion won).

LeBron received a salary of over $50 million (approximately 73 billion won) last season while playing for the Lakers. By donning the Philadelphia uniform, he forfeited approximately 67 billion won in salary. This demonstrates that LeBron's final goal is focused on winning the championship.

Philadelphia had not reached the NBA summit for 43 years since 1983. However, with LeBron joining, they have instantly risen as a strong championship contender.

Philadelphia already has Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey anchoring the team. With Jaylen Brown joining recently and LeBron adding to the roster, they have built an ultra-luxury lineup composed of top-tier league players.

The market also reacted immediately to LeBron's arrival. Immediately after LeBron's move announcement, Philadelphia's NBA championship odds dropped from 20-to-1 to 10-to-1. It is evaluated that the mere addition of LeBron significantly increased Philadelphia's chances of winning the championship.

LeBron is regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history alongside 'Basketball Emperor' Michael Jordan. He has appeared in 1,622 regular-season games, the most in NBA history over a 23-season span. He has recorded 43,440 career points, placing him atop the list of all-time NBA scorers.

He also won the regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP) award four Cha Rye (수상) times and secured the NBA championship and Finals MVP each four times. His career regular-season averages are 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists.

LeBron's skills remained intact during the 2025-2026 season. Playing for the Lakers, he appeared in 60 regular-season games, recording averages of 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds. He displayed top-tier competitiveness that is hard to believe for a 41-year-old veteran.

LeBron's decision on his future also impacted the entire NBA schedule. According to Reuters, the confirmation of the NBA's 2026-2027 regular-season schedule was delayed as LeBron's choice came late. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver publicly mentioned LeBron at a fan event held in New York last week and urged him to make a quick decision.

In the end, LeBron chose Philadelphia. However, the reason it took so long for the decision was not simply about picking a new team. It was a major crossroads where he had to decide whether to continue his playing career or leave the court as is.

In fact, LeBron revealed that after the Lakers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs last season, he seriously considered retirement. He said, "When the season ended, I thought my basketball life was over," and confessed, "I knew I wasn't ready to announce my retirement and needed sufficient time, but I was almost certain I had already played my final game."

However, after long deliberation, LeBron changed his mind. LeBron said, "At the last press conference, I told myself I had to reflect on who I am and decide if I still love this game; at that time, it was sincere," but added, "I still genuinely love basketball, and there is more I have to show."

He continued, "The past few weeks were truly special. I didn't have enough time to think while not knowing what to do in a state of complete uncertainty," and reflected, "I spent an amazing few months with the people I love to find all the answers."

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*This content was translated by AI.