Basketball great LeBron James, 41, ditches retirement plans

US basketball star LeBron James has announced he is joining the Philadelphia 76ers - after ditching tentative plans to retire from the sport.

The 41-year-old said that while he had been "pretty sure" he was going to quit this summer when his previous team, the Los Angeles Lakers, exited the playoffs, he had now decided to give the sport one last shot.

James wrote on social media: "This is my last decision. I'm not going for money. 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."

He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and has spent the last eight seasons of his career with the Lakers, leading them to a title win in 2020.

But the world of basketball has been on tenterhooks for weeks for news of his next move - and whether he would continue playing for a record-extending 24th season.

In a lengthy statement, James admitted: "I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn't ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game."

But he said the last few weeks had "really been special" while he took "real time to just think".

"I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energise a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time," James added.

However, commentators said the star may have his work cut out. The East Coast side has not won a title in 43 years.

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James did not disclose the terms of his new deal. But ESPN reported that the four-time champion had signed a two-year, $8m (£6m) contract.

Such a deal would be a significant pay cut, considering he reportedly made more than $50m (£37.5m) with the Lakers last season.

(c) Sky News 2026: Basketball great LeBron James, 41, ditches retirement plans