James Not Returning To Lakers, Plans To Play 24th Season Elsewhere
LeBron James is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, bringing an end to an eight-year run in purple and gold and opening the door to another major decision in one of the most watched careers in sports history.
James has told the Lakers he will not return next season and plans to play a record-extending 24th NBA season elsewhere. The move comes 16 years after his first famous “Decision,” when he left Cleveland for Miami, and it immediately becomes one of the biggest storylines of the NBA offseason.
At 41, James has made clear that his motivation remains the same: competing for championships. That makes his next landing spot especially important, with contenders expected to line up for a chance to add one of the greatest players in league history.
“I’ve done it all. I’ve seen it all,” James said after the Lakers’ season ended in May. “Just being able to compete and trying to win championships, I think that’s a motivating factor.”
Warriors, Heat, Cavaliers And Spurs Among Possible Landing Spots
Golden State is believed to be among the teams on James’ radar, with speculation already building around the possibility of him joining Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr. James faced the Warriors four times in the NBA Finals while playing for Cleveland, but he also has close relationships with Green, Curry and Kerr.
Curry and James were teammates for Team USA during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Kerr served as head coach. That familiarity could matter as James weighs where he wants to spend what may be the final chapter of his playing career.
Cleveland and Miami are also expected to draw attention as possible reunion spots. James spent the first seven seasons of his career in Cleveland before leaving for Miami, where he won the first two of his four championships. He later returned to the Cavaliers and delivered Cleveland its long-awaited NBA title in 2016.
San Antonio has also surfaced as an intriguing possibility, especially with 7-foot-4 superstar Victor Wembanyama already positioned as one of the league’s biggest young stars. A James-Wembanyama pairing would instantly turn the Spurs into one of the league’s most talked-about teams.
Lakers Thank James For Championship Run
The Lakers released a statement Tuesday thanking James for his time with the franchise, including the 2020 NBA championship he helped deliver during the league’s pandemic-era bubble season.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said. “We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers, including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances, and the countless records he broke in purple and gold. We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family.”
James’ Lakers tenure was the longest single stint he has had with any NBA team. During that time, he won a championship, became the league’s all-time leading scorer and made history by playing alongside his son, Bronny James.
Magic Johnson also praised James on social media, saying the NBA legend “created a whole new era for the Lakers.”
“I’ll always love and be grateful for him and wish him all the best in the next phase of his life, on and off the court!” Johnson wrote.
What Happens Next For LeBron James
NBA free agency opened Tuesday at 6 p.m. EDT, allowing James and his longtime agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, to begin conversations with interested teams. James cannot officially sign with a new team until the league’s offseason moratorium is lifted on July 6.
A person familiar with the plans told The Associated Press that Golden State, Miami and Cleveland were among the teams expected to make pitches. Money is not expected to be the deciding factor in James’ choice.
The Warriors gained added flexibility when Draymond Green declined his $27.6 million option for the upcoming season. Green has indicated that his decision was made in part to help Golden State work through roster options.
“Personally, I’m always willing to work with the team on whatever is best, especially at this point in my career,” Green said on his podcast. “I’ve always taken the approach of working with the organization. I’ve been in one place for 14 years. It’s more of a family to me than anything.”
A Career That Still Stands Alone
James remains the NBA’s oldest active player and turns 42 in December. He was the first player in league history to appear in 23 seasons, and now he is preparing to stretch that record to 24.
His résumé remains almost unmatched. James is a 22-time All-Star, 21-time All-NBA selection, four-time league MVP, four-time NBA Finals MVP and member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.
Even in his 23rd season, James remained highly productive, averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. For his career, he has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists across more than 1,600 regular-season games.
