Why Is Lebron James' Contract With The Philadelphia 76ers So Low?

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LeBron James has made north of $581 million over his career. So why is his new deal with the Philadelphia 76ers so low?

James announced Friday, July 24 that he will sign with the Sixers in a move that lands James on his fourth different team across his NBA-record 24 seasons. Yet, despite his career earnings and despite his stature as the premier player of this generation, James’ contract with Philadelphia will be worth $8 million over two years, with the final season being a player option, a person with direct knowledge of the contract confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not publicly authorized to discuss terms of the deal.

LeBron James contract details

The contract gives James some flexibility at the end of the 2026-27 season, allowing him to opt in for 2027-28. The deal is essentially the veteran minimum exception.

It is, furthermore, the most affordable contract of James’ career and only rivals the average annual salary of his rookie deal ($4.7 million per season).

In short, James’ contract is so team-friendly because he can afford it. James and his agent, Rich Paul, had said repeatedly in the leadup to Friday’s announcement that money would not be a significant factor in determining his next team. None of his finalists – the Sixers, Cavaliers, Heat, Warriors and Timberwolves – were operating with much cap space, though each had been reserving a small slice in case James decided to join them.

“I’m not going for money,” James wrote Friday in a post on social media. “I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point?

“I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.”

Given the massive haul of his career earnings — not to mention all of the off-court revenue he generates over his various businesses and endorsement deals — James had the ability to be selective and sign on to the team he felt most capable of winning a championship.

Given that the 76ers retooled and added Jaylen Brown in a massive trade, James joins a roster that is ready to compete with the very best teams in the East.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is LeBron James' contract with the Philadelphia 76ers so low?