LeBron James is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, which means another decision awaits.
A mere 16 years after his first famed 鈥渄ecision鈥� 鈥� the one that saw him leave Cleveland for Miami 鈥� James is getting ready to change uniforms once again. He has told the Lakers that his eight-year run with them is over and that he’ll play a record-extending 24th NBA season elsewhere.
James has made clear many times in recent years that more championships are his motivation, which means it’s almost certain he’ll pick a team that he believes can contend for an NBA title in 2027. Golden State is believed to be on his list, though there are certainly some who will wonder if reunions with Cleveland and Miami are possible. Or, perhaps, a new landing spot awaits such as San Antonio, where he could partner with 7-foot-4 global megastar Victor Wembanyama.
鈥淚鈥檝e done it all. I鈥檝e seen it all,鈥� James said when the Lakers’ season ended in May 鈥� after what was his last game with the franchise. 鈥淛ust being able to compete and trying to win championships, I think that鈥檚 a motivating factor.鈥�
The first half of his decision is complete: He’s back for at least one more year, which means his family agreed to that part of the plan 鈥� James had said his wife Savannah and 12-year-old daughter Zhuri would have big says in whether or not he continued to play.
His next decision 鈥� where to play 鈥� is among the biggest dominoes that will fall during the NBA’s offseason player movement window, alongside .
The Lakers released a statement Tuesday thanking James for his eight seasons with the club.
鈥淟eBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,鈥� said Jeanie Buss, part of the Lakers鈥� ownership group. 鈥淲e 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.鈥�
ESPN, citing James鈥� longtime agent and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, first reported James鈥� plans.
What happens now
James can begin talking officially to new clubs after 6 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, when the league鈥檚 free agent period opens. He will not be able to sign with a new team until the league鈥檚 offseason moratorium is lifted on July 6.
The momentum toward Golden State seemed to pick up when longtime Warriors forward Draymond Green did not exercise his $27.6 million option for this coming season earlier this week in large part to allow his team flexibility to make other roster moves. It doesn’t mean Green won’t be back in Golden State 鈥� all indications are that he will 鈥� but it gives the team options.
鈥淧ersonally, I鈥檓 always willing to work with the team on whatever is best, especially at this point in my career,鈥� Green said on the latest episode of his podcast, which was released Tuesday. 鈥淪o my decision to opt out was for a few reasons. As you all know, I鈥檝e always taken the approach of working with the organization. I鈥檝e been in one place for 14 years. It鈥檚 more of a family to me than anything.鈥�
Golden State is a franchise James faced four times with Cleveland in the NBA Finals. He also has close relationships with Green, Stephen Curry and Warriors coach Steve Kerr; Curry was his teammate and Kerr was his coach for USA Basketball’s run to the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.
James spent eight seasons with the Lakers, the longest he spent in one stint with one NBA team and led them to the 2020 NBA championship. He became the NBA鈥檚 all-time points leader while wearing a Lakers uniform and surpassed a slew of other records while in purple and gold.
He spent the first seven years of his career in Cleveland, then left for four years in Miami where he won the first two of his four championships. That was followed by another four-year stint with the Cavaliers (so he had 11 years there total), and in 2018 he joined the Lakers.
A career like none other
James is the NBA鈥檚 oldest active player; he turns 42 in December. He was the first player in league history to log 23 seasons; he鈥檒l add at least one more to that this season. He also became the first player in the league to have a son as a teammate, with Bronny James playing alongside him with the Lakers.
The list of James鈥� accolades to this point are beyond comparison.
He鈥檚 a 22-time All-Star, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a four-time Most Valuable Player, a four-time NBA Finals MVP, a three-time All-Star Game MVP, and was part of the NBA鈥檚 75th anniversary team. He鈥檚 coming off a season where he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, and for his career, he鈥檚 averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists in more than 1,600 games.
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