LeBron James Signed for Less Than Dean Wade Makes

By the 76ers Nightly Desk · Thursday, September 24

LeBron James turns 41 this season and signed a two-year, $8 million deal on July 27 to play for Philadelphia, a fraction of what four teammates are owed. Last season he still posted a 59.4 true shooting percentage and a plus-2.6 net rating over 60 games — the numbers of a player who hasn't slowed as much as his birth certificate suggests.

LeBron James of the 76ers — LeBron James. Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

How much is he actually being paid?

James signed a two-year, $8 million contract on July 27, 2026: $3.9 million this season, a $4.1 million player option for 2027-28. Dean Wade, the fifth-highest earner here, makes $9 million alone. With $213.2 million in commitments and the luxury tax line at $200.4 million, James is the discount item.

Can a 41-year-old still play at this level?

Last season he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists over 60 games and 33.2 minutes, shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 59.4 percent true shooting. His net rating was plus-2.6. Those are not the numbers of a man who should be handing out AARP forms in the locker room instead of stat lines.

What's his job next to Embiid, Brown and Maxey?

Not shot volume. His 26.2 usage rate trails Maxey and Brown, who scored 28.3 and 28.7 points a game last season, and Embiid, who managed 26.9 in 38 games. His 33.8 assist percentage says the job is decision-making — get everybody else's numbers up, not chase his own.

Is he hurt heading into camp?

No. James is not on the 76ers' injury report right now. The two names banged up are Adem Bona, day-to-day with a foot issue and expected back around October 1, and KCP, day-to-day with a finger injury on the same timeline. At 41 years old with 23 seasons logged, James is the healthy one in that room.

Why does this season matter so much for his legacy?

The Sixer Sense's Jack Simone framed the championship outcome here as a legacy swing for James; Maxwell Ogden, also at The Sixer Sense, called this his lowest-ever NBA Rank and a chance at a redemption season. The Philadelphia Inquirer's Mike Livingston noted ESPN Rank still placed him among the league's top 20 players alongside Maxey and Brown.

The verdictA $3.9 million contract for a top-20-ranked player is either the value contract of the summer or proof nobody else wanted him at market rate. Either way, last season's 59.4 true shooting and 7.2 assists a game say this isn't a farewell tour — it's a role built to last a full season.

Is LeBron James injured to start 76ers training camp?

No. He is not on the injury report; Adem Bona and KCP are the two players listed day-to-day.

How much money is LeBron James making with the 76ers?

He signed a two-year, $8 million contract on July 27, 2026: $3.9 million in 2026-27 and a $4.1 million player option for 2027-28.