LeBron James's first "final" decision was that he would retire. 

Weeks of deep reflection led him to change his mind, however, with all the familiar options in front of him to extend his career; a third trip with Cleveland, a second stop in Miami, maybe even stay in California for a high-profile union in Golden State.

But it was nope to all of those teams.

The blaring headline in bold letters still seemed like a feverish dream to the bulk of a fan base who was not even alive the last time the franchise won a title, but it is true: LeBron James is heading to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The NBA's all-time leading scorer made the announcement on social media overnight, saying it will be his "last decision" and that it comes after he strongly considered retirement.

"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 said.

A four-time NBA champion, James wrote he was "done" when his 23rd NBA season ended and that it was his last with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game," James wrote. 

"I still truly love this game, and I have more to give."

The 41-year-old James is set to sign a modest $US8 million ($11.4 million), two-year contract on the veteran minimum salary with the Sixers, according to ESPN. He made nearly $53 million last season.

"I'm not going for money. I'm not going for family," James wrote. 

"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."

James celebrated his decision on Instagram with a career highlight reel set to Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill's Dreams and Nightmares, the adopted sports anthem of city teams.

The video ends with the lyric, "hold up, wait a minute. Y'all thought I was finished?" and cuts to a 76ers' logo.

Sportswear company Fanatics already had his number 23 jersey on sale for $125 with delivery not expected until the end of August. The company sold out within hours of the announcement.

Much as James did for Cleveland when he ended a 56-year championship drought for the city by leading the Cavaliers to the title in 2016, he can snap a lengthy title drought for the Sixers.

The Sixers went 45-37 last season and were swept in the second round by the NBA champion New York Knicks.

Most betting sites had the Sixers as 9-1 favourites to win the championship behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks, as of Saturday morning.

James joins a 76ers team that has not won an NBA championship since 1983 and has not advanced out of the second round of the Eastern Conference play-offs since 2001.

The 76ers should boast one of the top starting fives in the NBA with second-year standout VJ Edgecombe, fellow All-Stars Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown — the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, a five-time All-Star and the league's fourth-leading scorer this past season acquired in a stunning off-season deal with the Celtics.

Maxey posted an Instagram story of him celebrating in a gym and yelling "What? What!" over the news while Brown wrote on X "#throwtheballup." 

Brown wrote the same phrase in his introductory note to Philadelphia, and it has already been branded on billboards throughout the city.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro even proclaimed Friday as LeBron James Day in the state.

AP