LeBron James’ decision to continue his NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers has sparked plenty of debate about what’s motivating the 41-year-old superstar at this stage of his career.
While another championship is clearly still an ambition, Lakers legend Byron Scott believes there’s a bigger reason behind James’ decision to join Philadelphia.
LeBron-inspired celebration helps Cavan Sullivan capture Philly’s attention
James chose the 76ers after reportedly coming close to retirement and agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract. The deal represents a huge financial sacrifice compared with the $52.6 million salary he earned during the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
James has made it clear that money wasn’t the deciding factor in his decision to keep playing.
Scott believes James is focused on extending his remarkable career and maintaining his ability to perform at a high level. From that perspective, Philadelphia could offer exactly what the veteran needs during the 24th season of his NBA journey.
“He’s not chasing rings. He’s chasing his legacy to continue to play this game at a very high level,” said Scott.
“Now, does Philly probably give him the best chance to win a ring? Probably so. If you look at their team on paper, they’re pretty loaded. And he doesn’t have to do a whole lot of heavy lifting with this team.”
Philadelphia could give LeBron a lighter workload
The Sixers could also provide James with something he hasn’t consistently had throughout his career: a roster capable of carrying a substantial portion of the offensive responsibility.
Philadelphia already has major talent in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, while Jaylen Brown’s arrival gives the team another proven scoring option on the wing.
With that kind of supporting cast, James shouldn’t have to dominate the ball or produce huge numbers every night. As Scott suggested, he won’t need to do as much “heavy lifting” to make the team competitive.
That could be particularly valuable given how James’ role has evolved. During his final season with the Lakers, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists across 60 games. His 26.2% usage rate was also the lowest of his career, suggesting that his responsibilities had already begun to change.
James, however, hasn’t hidden his desire to compete for another championship. He has said that he still wants to sacrifice, work, grind and compete, while believing he can help turn Philadelphia into a championship team.
Interestingly, Sixers legend Julius Erving has also taken a measured approach to evaluating James’ legacy. Erving explained that he generally reserves his all-time teams for players whose careers are already finished, meaning he doesn’t want to decide James’ final historical ranking before retirement.
That philosophy fits the challenge awaiting James in Philadelphia. His legacy is already secure, with four championships, 10 Finals appearances and more than 40,000 career points. Yet his move to the 76ers gives him another opportunity to shape the final chapter.
Another championship would certainly add to that legacy in Scott’s eyes, but it isn’t necessarily the sole reason James is still playing.