LeBron’s decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers surprised the basketball world, but the details of his new salary shocked fans even more.
Entering his 24th NBA season, a league record, the basketball icon will earn a base salary of $3.88 million. This marks the largest single-season salary cut in NBA history, as he received $52.63 million from the Los Angeles Lakers last season.
To pursue his ultimate goal of winning a fifth NBA championship ring, LeBron accepted a veteran’s minimum contract for players with 10 or more years of experience.
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LeBron James celebrates after Gabe Vincent’s successful three-point shot in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Utah Jazz in the NBA on Nov. 18, 2025. Photo by AP |
This contract also represents the lowest annual income he has ever received in his professional career. Even during his rookie season in 2003-2004, a young LeBron was paid $4 million, CBS Sports reported.
With this reduced salary, LeBron ranks 298th on the list of the highest-paid NBA players for the next season.
Stephen Curry remains at the top of that list with $62.5 million, which is around 15 times LeBron’s new salary.
At the Philadelphia 76ers, LeBron’s new teammates Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid will both be receiving $57.7 million per season.
When compared to other players across the league, the financial difference is also large. Spanish player Santi Aldama will earn $17 million, while Aday Mara, the 12th overall pick in the most recent NBA Draft, will receive $5.7 million.
Even Sergio De Larrea, the 25th overall pick, will receive $3.1 million, putting him just slightly behind LeBron’s earnings.
At 41, LeBron continues to maintain an impressive form on the court. Last season, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in just over 33 minutes per game.
These statistics are typically seen in players earning around $40 million per season, making the 76ers’ acquisition an absolute bargain in terms of cost-effectiveness.
All for the fifth ring
LeBron is willing to accept this significant pay cut because his primary goal is to compete for a title, not to increase his personal wealth.
For the past 14 years, he has consistently ranked among the highest-paid players in the NBA, earning over $580 million from his playing contracts alone.
The American superstar boasts numerous valuable endorsement deals, most notably his lifetime contract with Nike.
He was the first NBA player to reach a total net worth of over $1 billion while still active and has been consistently ranked among the world’s highest-earning athletes by Forbes.
LeBron’s contract with the 76ers spans two years, though the second season is up to his decision.
His future after the upcoming season remains uncertain, especially when he was considering retirement before making the move to Philadelphia.
“I thought I was done when the season ended. I was pretty convinced that I had played my last game,” he said, as quoted by Marca. “I needed to take a hard look at myself and decide whether I still loved this sport. The reality is that I still love this game and feel that I still have a lot to contribute.”
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LeBron James (C) holds the NBA trophies and celebrates with his teammates after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 106-93 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Oct. 11, 2020. Photo by AP |
Undisputed legacy
Nicknamed “King James,” LeBron is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
He is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, has won four championships and has appeared in 10 Finals series, which included an eight-year run from 2011 to 2018.
He has also secured three Olympic gold medals with the U.S. men’s national basketball team.
Throughout his decorated career, LeBron has won four regular-season MVP awards, four Finals MVP awards, and one Rookie of the Year award. He has been selected to the NBA All-Star game a record 22 times.
LeBron also holds several significant league records, including the most seasons played, most career games played, most career minutes played, and the most successful shots made in NBA history.
Selected as the number one overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron’s journey has seen him play for the Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Lakers before his recent move to the 76ers.
He helped the Cavaliers win their first-ever NBA championship in 2016. He then went on to win the Lakers’ championship in 2020, becoming the first player in history to win Finals MVP with three different teams.