LeBron James is set to leave the Los Angeles Lakers, concluding an eight-season tenure with the team. Reports indicate that James has informed the Lakers of his intention to continue his NBA career with another team. His representative, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, has confirmed that James is not retiring.
The Lakers acknowledged James’s contributions during his time with the franchise. Jeanie Buss, part of the Lakers’ ownership group, stated that James is considered one of the greatest athletes in history. She expressed gratitude for his eight years with the Lakers, highlighting the title he led them to in 2020 under challenging circumstances, and the numerous records he broke while with the team. Buss extended well wishes for his future, both on and off the court, affirming that he will always be a cherished member of the Lakers family.
James responded to the Lakers’ message on X, stating, “No, THANK YOU! Truly a honor to wear the 💜💛 while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint!”
Potential next steps
Media reports suggest that the Golden State Warriors are a potential destination for James. This move could see him unite with former rivals Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, whom James faced in the NBA Finals for four consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2018 while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors are also reportedly considering signing Anthony Davis.
The window for free agency negotiation is scheduled to open at 6pm ET on Tuesday. However, players are unable to sign with a new team until the league’s offseason moratorium is lifted on 6 July. Green’s decision not to exercise his option for the upcoming season is partly to provide the team with flexibility for roster adjustments.
Green commented on his decision, stating his willingness to work with the team on what is best, particularly at this stage of his career. He noted that his choice to opt out was for several reasons, emphasizing his long-standing approach of collaborating with the organization and his view of the team as a family after 14 years.
James has close relationships with Green, Curry, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr, which could influence his decision to join Golden State.
LeBron James’s career and achievements
James, who will turn 42 during the 2026-27 season, spent seven seasons with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers after being selected as the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. He later moved to the Miami Heat before returning to Cleveland, where he led the team to their first championship in 2016, overcoming a 3-1 series deficit against Golden State in the NBA Finals.
His eight years with the Lakers represent his longest continuous stretch with a single team. During his time in Los Angeles, James helped the Lakers secure an NBA title in 2020, nine months after the passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. He also played alongside his son, Bronny, since 2024.
James is a 22-time All-Star, having received the honour every year from 2005 to 2026. He has also been named league MVP four times, a total surpassed only by Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His career statistics include averaging 26.8 points per game, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists.
He holds numerous NBA records, including most minutes played, most points scored, and most All-Star appearances. James is the league’s all-time leading scorer with 43,440 points and is fourth all-time in assists with 12,016. He is expected to surpass Jason Kidd for the third spot in 2026-27 and has a chance to overtake Chris Paul for the second spot. James’s streak of scoring at least 10 points extends to 1,297 games.
The Lakers and James reached the Western Conference Finals in 2023. Eight of his 22 All-Star selections and seven of his 21 All-NBA honours were achieved during his time with the Lakers.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
As News-GB.org's Sports Reporter, Eleanor Vance reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name on long-form athlete profiles. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Bath and completed an NCTJ diploma. Eleanor lives in Bath, where she swims competitively and follows British athletics. “A profile is only as good as the questions behind it.”