PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James is out for tonight’s game against the Toronto Raptors, the Philadelphia 76ers announced.
James was ruled out for lower back/sciatica management. The oldest active player in the NBA will have four to five days off before he plays again.
The 76ers are off Friday and Saturday. They have back-to-back games Sunday and Monday.
James typically does not play in at least one game of a back-to-back set, so he could return Sunday against the Indiana Pacers or Monday against the Brooklyn Nets.
In his first season with the 76ers, James is averaging 15.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game while shooting 43.2% from the field, 23.7% from beyond the arc and 70.0% from the free-throw line.
Philadelphia entered the Toronto game with a 9-3 record.
Inside James’ Decision To Join Philadelphia
June 30, 2026. That’s the day James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, informed the Los Angeles Lakers that his client would not be returning to the franchise.
One day later, the 76ers agreed to acquire Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster deal that ultimately pushed James to sign with the franchise one of his closest friends, Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, used to star for.
“The Jaylen trade pushed LeBron to sign with Philly,” a source told Dallas Sports Journal.
This offseason was the first time since 2018 James was an unrestricted free agent. The 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers were the four teams the NBA icon seriously considered joining before eventually signing with Philadelphia.
Had the 76ers not traded for Brown, James would not be in Philadelphia.
“LeBron would not be on the 76ers right now if they didn’t get Jaylen,” a source told Dallas Sports Journal. “That was the move that made this all happen.”
James didn’t tell Paul about his decision to sign with the 76ers until one hour past midnight on July 24. He kept going back and forth between Philadelphia, Miami and Cleveland, sources said.
While James has always wanted to play with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, and living in San Francisco would have allowed him to be close to his wife and daughter in Los Angeles, James never seriously considered joining the Warriors, sources said.
“It was between Miami, Philly and Cleveland for LeBron,” a source told Dallas Sports Journal. “He’s already won in Miami and Cleveland. He wanted a new challenge and wants to bring Philly a ring.”
The 76ers have never advanced past the second round of the playoffs in the Joel Embiid era. That could change this season with James in the fold next to Embiid, Brown, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
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