LeBron James’ move to Philadelphia 76ers boosts economy as agent hints at longer career

NBA superstar LeBron James may extend his playing career by several more seasons after signing with the Philadelphia 76ers as economists project his arrival will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity for the state 

Rich Paul, James’ agent, said the 41-year-old NBA icon and four-time NBA champion could play for up to four more seasons, saying he believes the move to Philadelphia will “energise” him before he eventually hangs up his jersey. 

“I think Philadelphia’s going to energise him. Maybe we get two (seasons). Maybe we get four,” he said, as quoted by Yahoo Sports. 

Paul’s remarks are supported by James’ performance last season, which showed he can still compete at an elite level despite being the oldest player in the league.

In fact, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, proving he still has plenty left in the tank.

James signs two-year deal with 76ers 

The remarks came as questions surrounding James’ retirement continue to linger after he signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers in late July, extending his NBA-record career into a 24th season.

This means James will earn around $3.9 million next season, lower than the value of his rookie contract, making it the largest pay cut in NBA history.

With the move, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer returns to the Eastern Conference to team up with former MVP Joel Embiid, as well as rising stars Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

The signing came just days after James announced his move to Philadelphia following eight seasons with the Lakers, ending speculation over his next destination.

Philadelphia feels LeBron effect 

Although James will earn significantly less than in previous seasons, he is already making history and demonstrating his commercial appeal even before playing a game for the 76ers.

The revamped 76ers will feature in 34 nationally televised games next season, the maximum allocation across ABC/ESPN, NBCUniversal’s NBC Sports and Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video, Front Office Sports reported.

That represents an increase of 20 nationally televised games from the 14 scheduled during the 2025-26 season, marking one of the biggest single-season jumps in national television exposure in league history.

James’ No. 23 jerseys also set a Fanatics record for the most jerseys sold within the first 48 hours after a player joined a new team in any sport, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported.

Although Fanatics, the NBA’s e-commerce partner, did not release exact sales figures, it said James surpassed the previous record held by Major League Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani after his move to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023.

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Impact beyond the court 

Economists noted that James’ presence in Philadelphia is expected to boost demand for tickets, apparel and other team-related merchandise, ultimately generating a significant economic windfall. 

“The level of interest in the team, and then ultimately the success of the team, could definitely play out in more economic activity in a few different ways,” said Ethan Conner-Ross of Econsult Solutions. 

Meanwhile, a report by consulting firm The Boyd Co. estimated that James’ arrival could generate between $250 million and $430 million in regional economic activity.

The projected impact even left James’ new team-mate, Brown, in awe, saying it highlighted the NBA superstar’s ability to transform a city’s economy before even stepping onto the court.

“The most incredible thing about LeBron signing with Philadelphia is what it did to the economy. I’ve seen clips and read reports about how much it boosted the local economy,” he said on his Twitch stream. 

Focus on the prize 

Despite the excitement surrounding his arrival in Philadelphia, James said his objective remains unchanged – to win a fifth NBA championship. 

“I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.” he said in a post on social media. 

“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energise a new fanbase and start this incredible journey one last time.”

If successful, James would become the first player in NBA history to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy with four different franchises while helping the 76ers capture their first NBA title since 1983 and their fourth overall.

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