LeBron James Reportedly Could Live in NYC, Commute to Philadelphia After Signing with 76ers

LeBron James will spend the 2026-27 season with the Philadelphia 76ers, but his home base could be elsewhere.

ESPN's Shams Charania said Friday that James could potentially live in New York or New Jersey and commute into Philadelphia. ESPN's Dave McMenamin added that the prospect of living in New York and commuting to Philadelphia "only added to the appeal."

Rich Paul, James' agent, said on his podcast earlier this month that the four-time MVP would have gone to the New York Knicks if they hadn't just won a championship.

"If the Knicks hadn't won, there would be no board," Paul said. "He'd be going to the Knicks…. Jalen Brunson would literally have to pick up the phone and say 'Hey man, there's no issue with me.' They (Knicks) have checked in."

It's easy to understand why James wouldn't want to join the reigning champs, and Philadelphia is close enough that he can still enjoy all that the city has to offer.

Obviously, James is much more than a basketball player at this point. He's delved into a number of business ventures and has appeared on screen in movies several times over the last few years. Being close to New York gives him the chance to pursue off-the-court activities as he did in Los Angeles.

But as James said, winning a championship was his No. 1 priority when making his decision.

Few teams are better equipped to compete for a title than the Sixers. Philadelphia already had a strong core of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, but it also added former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown this offseason.

The team should be among the favorites to make it out of the East, and the 41-year-old James won't have to be the first option on offense, as he has been for most of his career.

Having made his biggest decision of the offseason, James will now decide between living in Philadelphia, New York or New Jersey.