On 24 July 2026, LeBron James announced he was signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, ending eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal was reported as two years and $8 million with a player option, taking him into a record 24th NBA season — and a fourth franchise.
It is the longest continuous stretch he has spent anywhere, and it is over. Here is what the Los Angeles years actually produced, and what it means for the shirts.
Key facts
- Signed: announced 24 July 2026, confirmed by the 76ers on 27 July 2026.
- Terms reported: two years, $8 million, with a player option.
- Age: 41. This is his 24th NBA season, an NBA record.
- Lakers tenure: eight seasons — the longest continuous run with one team in his career.
- 2020 title: the Lakers' 17th championship, won in the pandemic season.
- Family record: the first father to play alongside his son in the league, teaming with Bronny James for the past two seasons.
- Last Lakers season: 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game.
- Career: 43,440 points, 22 All-Star selections, 21 All-NBA selections, four MVP awards and four Finals MVPs.
The eight Lakers seasons, in numbers
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Seasons in Los Angeles | 8 (2018–19 through 2025–26) |
| Championships | 1 — 2020, the franchise's 17th |
| Joined from | Cleveland, in 2018 |
| Final season averages | 20.9 pts, 6.1 reb, 7.2 ast |
| Career points | 43,440 — NBA all-time leader |
| Career averages | 26.8 pts, 7.5 reb, 7.4 ast across more than 1,600 games |
| All-Star selections | 22 |
| All-NBA selections | 21, including 13 first-team |
Numbers alone do not explain why the Los Angeles shirts still sell. What sells is the length of the run: eight seasons is long enough that a whole generation of Lakers fans has no memory of the franchise without him, and long enough that the gold, purple and white editions stack up into a collection in their own right rather than a single famous shirt.
The Lakers shirts worth owning
Three tiers exist in the Los Angeles range, and the price difference is real.
| Shirt | Why it is here | Price |
|---|---|---|
| LeBron James, gold Icon Edition | The current-era Lakers home colourway, in the player-name build | $49.90 |
| LeBron James, 2021–22 Fast Break Icon | The replica build of the same colourway, lighter on the wallet | $39.90 |
| Kobe Bryant, Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Hardwood Classics | The retired-number edition, and the most-requested Lakers shirt full stop | $85.99 |
The $39.90 Fast Break replica is the cheapest way into a LeBron Lakers shirt, and for most buyers it is the right one — the cut is relaxed, the fabric lighter, and the gold Icon colourway is unchanged. Step up to $49.90 if you want the closer player build.
Then there is the heritage rack, which is where Lakers shirts get interesting. Magic Johnson's 1984–85 Hardwood Classics and Wilt Chamberlain's 1971–72 edition are both $49.90. Pau Gasol's 2009–10 purple is the same price and is the shirt that connects the Kobe era to the present one. If you want a blank canvas instead, the custom gold Icon jersey at $49.90 lets you put your own name and number on it.
What Philadelphia actually changes
The 76ers went 45–37 last season and were swept in the second round by the Knicks, who went on to win the title. Philadelphia has not won a championship since 1983. That is the specific gap James said he wanted to close, and it is why the move happened.
The roster around him is the reason it is plausible: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown — acquired from Boston in a deal that sent Paul George and four draft picks the other way — and Joel Embiid. James has said publicly that the Brown trade was the moment Philadelphia became a serious option, and that the chance to help Embiid win a first title was a large part of the decision.
For a shirt buyer, that means the Philadelphia 76ers collection is the one to watch this season; it already runs to more than a hundred items. The Lakers range does not disappear — eight seasons of shirts do not expire — and the LeBron James jersey page and the full Los Angeles Lakers collection both still carry the Los Angeles colourways, including youth and preschool builds.
The dates to circle
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 20 October 2026 | Opening night — 76ers at Knicks, against the reigning champions |
| 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day — 76ers at Lakers, 5 p.m. ET. James returns to Los Angeles |
| 26–30 January 2027 | Rivals Week |
| 11 February 2027 | Trade deadline |
| 19–21 February 2027 | All-Star weekend, Phoenix |
| 11 April 2027 | Regular season ends |
| 13–16 April 2027 | Play-In Tournament |
| 18 April 2027 | Playoffs begin |
The 25 December fixture is the one that will define the season's first half. A Christmas Day game in Los Angeles against the team he left, five weeks before the trade deadline, is the single most-watched regular-season date on the calendar.
How to choose
If you are buying one shirt from this story, the logic is simple. Los Angeles gold at $39.90 if you want the era that produced the 2020 title and the father-and-son seasons. Philadelphia blue and red if you want the final chapter. And if you want the shirt that made the Lakers relevant again before either, it is the Kobe Hall of Fame edition at $85.99.
NBA shirts are cut standard through the chest with a longer hem than football or hockey jerseys, so order your true size unless you want extra length. The size guide covers the full men's, women's and youth NBA chart, and new arrivals land on the NBA new-season page.
Frequently asked questions
Which team did LeBron James sign with in 2026?
The Philadelphia 76ers. He announced the decision on 24 July 2026 and the team confirmed it on 27 July, on a reported two-year, $8 million deal with a player option.
How many seasons did he play for the Lakers?
Eight — from 2018–19 through 2025–26. It is the longest continuous stretch he has spent with a single team in his career.
Should I still buy a Lakers LeBron jersey?
Plenty of people will. Eight seasons and a championship is a long era, and the Los Angeles range is still fully stocked, from the $39.90 Fast Break replica to the $49.90 player-build Icon Edition.
When does he return to Los Angeles?
Christmas Day, 25 December 2026, when the 76ers visit the Lakers at 5 p.m. ET. It is one of five NBA games on Christmas Day.
What is the difference between a Fast Break replica and the Icon Edition?
Both use the same gold Icon colourway. The Fast Break replica is the lighter, more relaxed build at $39.90; the Icon Edition player jersey is cut closer at $49.90.
