MIAMI — Nobody knew anything about LeBron James’ big decision except LeBron James and his closest inner circle. That proved true on Friday with a choice that stunned most everyone — especially the Miami Heat.

James, incredibly still a superstar at 41, set the NBA abuzz with the midday news he will sign a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, his agent, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul, told ESPN’s Shams Charania.

It’s a crushing blow to the Heat, who hoped and believed James would choose Miami like he did in 2010, when a four-year stay led to four NBA Finals and league championships in 2012 and ‘13. The Heat have not been on top since then, and, after four straight seasons in play-in purgatory, counted on James’ return to help end that drought.

The Heat scored the biggest get of the basketball offseason by earlier trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and counted on that to help convince James to again “take his talents to South Beach” and form a new Big 3 along with Bam Adebayo.

Miami believed it would land James enough to have ready an introductory news conference notice that it accidentally and prematurely posted on its YouTube page recently before deleting it in embarrassment.

Oddsmakers and gamblers believed James was Heat-bound enough to make Miami a -200 favorite in the latest pre-decision odds per DraftKings. Cleveland was second favorite at +225, followed by Golden State at +450 — and then Philly at +700. Lots of money lost on that bet ... except by those who banked on the Sixers’ recent acquisition of Jaylen Brown from Boston carrying the weight with LeBron that apparently it did.

We might never know, unless James addresses it, if Miami’s social-media gaffe on the introductory event, upset LeBron enough to effect his ultimate decision. Doubtful. But maybe? For certain it did not help the Heat.

“I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and deicide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give,” he said on X [formerly Twitter], of also considering retirement before deciding to enter a record 24th season. “This is my last decision,” he wrote. “I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. 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 another championship. I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team, and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”

There is some thought LeBron might play one season in Philly and then play a 25th and last season back home in Cleveland, near where he was born and raised Akron. It is believed the two-year deal with the Sixers will enable that option.

I believed, and still do, that the Heat of all the finalists offered LeBron the best available teammate in Antetokounmpo, the best coach in Erik Spoelstra and the best days of LeBron’s career back from 2010 to 2014. James left with some acrimony, but Heat president Pat Riley said recently the relationship had “thawed.” The two embraced in February when Los Angeles unveiled a Riley statue for his time leading the Showtime Lakers.

All of that makes LeBron saying no to Miami a stunner, a real slap. And it leaves Miami still needing to add a key piece or two to augment Giannis and Bam, especially another scorer and 3-point shooting.

If anyone doubted James’ power as all-star caliber even at 41, commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the league was withholding announcing its 2026-27 league schedule because where LeBron landed would impact how many marquee games that team was awarded.

Miami landing the grand-prize Giannis had lifted Miami from 20th to 12th in ESPN’s new NBA power rankings, and to sixth in the East after the Knicks, 76ers, Pistons, Cavaliers and Celtics. Adding LeBron would have surely seen Miami rise to perhaps sixth overall and third in the East.

Bottom line: West powers Oklahoma City and San Antonio remain title favorites in 2026-27. But for Miami, adding Giannis and LeBron would have made the Heat a legitimate East contender with championship hopes no longer fanciful or seeming far off.

Now, it is Philadelphia feeling that excitement of burgeoning potential as the Heat feel defeated, deflated.

Trading away so much in the blockbuster Antetokounmpo deal signaled an all-or-nothing, win-now approach by the Heat. Championship-or-bust stuff. One final big swing, by Riley, at 81, to see another parade down Biscayne Boulevard.

Adding LeBron James would have greatly buoyed those dreams.

Watching him headed instead to an East rival is not less than a crushing blow.

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