LOS ANGELES — A source close to LeBron James told ESPN that the star forward’s decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers this summer might have played out differently had the team’s record $12.5 billion sale to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner taken place before he became a free agent, adding a new layer to an offseason that has already reshaped the franchise twice over.

James announced in late July that he would sign with the Philadelphia 76ers rather than return to the Lakers for a ninth season, ending an eight-year run in Los Angeles that included the franchise’s 17th NBA championship. Less than a month later, the Lakers themselves changed hands, with former Disney chief executive Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner purchasing the team from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion, a figure that smashed the previous North American professional sports franchise record Walter himself had set just one year earlier when he bought the Lakers from the Buss family for approximately $10 billion.

ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, who has closely covered James for years as one of the reporters most associated with the star’s beat, asked a source close to James whether the ownership change, had it occurred sooner, might have influenced his decision to stay in Los Angeles. The source offered a measured, hedged response. “Maybe,” the source said. “But that’s tough to answer. Communication could have been better [with Iger and Kushner, compared to Walter]. Just a different relationship. But the basketball piece was the most important, so maybe not from that standpoint.”

That final caveat, that the underlying basketball fit mattered more than the identity of ownership, has been echoed across much of the reporting and fan reaction following McMenamin’s story. Under Walter’s brief tenure, the Lakers made clear their long-term roster plans centered on 26-year-old star Luka Dončić, acquired in a blockbuster trade in February 2025, rather than around James, who turned 41 during the final stretch of last season. That shift in organizational priorities left James in a position some analysts have described as increasingly peripheral to the franchise’s forward-looking plans, even as he remained a productive and highly respected player through his final Lakers season.

James ultimately signed a two-year, $8 million contract with Philadelphia, a deal he has described as his “last decision” after saying he seriously considered retirement before choosing to continue his career for one more run at a championship. His move reunited him with a 76ers roster that has been dramatically reshaped this offseason, including the addition of All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown alongside returning stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, giving James a chance to compete for a title without needing to be the primary offensive engine, a role he largely occupied during his final seasons in Los Angeles.

Reaction to the report linking the Lakers’ ownership change to James’ free agency decision has been mixed, with a notable share of fans and commentators expressing skepticism about how much weight the single “maybe” from an anonymous source should actually carry. Social media reaction following the story included users questioning whether the comment amounted to meaningful new information at all, with some pointing out that a hedged, noncommittal response falls well short of confirming that James would have stayed under different circumstances. Others speculated more pointedly about the specific relationships in play, noting that Josh Kushner is the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, and questioning whether that family connection might have complicated any hypothetical relationship between James and the new ownership group regardless of communication style.

Beyond the James speculation, the change in Lakers ownership has already begun generating its own set of storylines. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne has pointed to Iger’s close personal relationship with recently retired point guard Chris Paul as a potential avenue for the new owners to bring additional basketball mentorship into the organization around Dončić, given Paul’s reputation as one of the league’s most respected basketball minds heading into retirement. McMenamin has separately suggested that Lakers head coach JJ Redick, who signed a contract extension under the previous ownership regime, appears well positioned to remain in his role under the new group, at least for now.

The Lakers’ ownership change also carries an unusual wrinkle given Iger’s history as a longtime, publicly known fan of the crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers, a detail that has added an extra layer of intrigue to his arrival atop one of the NBA’s most storied franchises. How that history might shape his approach to running the Lakers, if at all, remains to be seen as the new ownership group settles into place.

For now, the Lakers enter the 2026-27 season fully committed to building around Dončić, following a roster overhaul that included trading rookie big man Johni Broome and making other moves to manage the team’s salary-cap situation heading into the new campaign. James, meanwhile, is set to begin his Philadelphia tenure with a nationally televised season opener against the New York Knicks on October 20, a fixture that will also double as the Knicks’ championship ring ceremony following their 2026 NBA Finals win.

Whether an earlier Lakers sale genuinely could have altered the outcome of one of the most closely watched free agency decisions in recent NBA history remains, by the account of James’ own camp, a fundamentally unanswerable question, one now left to speculation as both James and the Lakers move forward along separate paths this coming season.

Operator

Good morning, and welcome to Digi Power X, Inc.’s Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results Conference Call. Please note that this event is being recorded, and a transcript will be available on Digi Power X, Inc.’s website. [Operator Instructions] Unless noted otherwise, all amounts referred to during the call are denominated in U.S. dollars.

Certain comments made during this call may include forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable U.S. and Canadian securities laws. Such statements and information reflect current expectations and as such, are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in Digi Power X, Inc.’s report on Form 10-Q for the 3 and 6 months ended June 30, 2026, and the annual report for the year ended December 31, 2025, as well as the company’s other disclosure documents. Except to the extent required by applicable law, Digi Power X undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements or information.

During the call, management may make reference to certain non-GAAP financial measures that are not separately defined under GAAP, such as EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA. Management believes that those non-GAAP measures, when considered in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, provide useful information for both management and investors. Reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP measures are presented in the tables accompanying the press release highlighting Digi Power X financial results as of the quarter ended June 30, 2026, have been filed and made accessible under the company’s continuous disclosure profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and are also available on the SEC’s EDGAR website at www.sec.gov/edgar.

Dame Amanda Blanc said kite flying ahead of John Healey’s maiden budget would not be helpful

The boss of insurer Aviva has urged the new Chancellor not to “fly kites” with prospective policies ahead of the October budget after last year’s speculation around pension changes

Chief executive Dame Amanda Blanc, who was born and brought up in Treherbert, said widespread rumours that the UK Government might cut or restrict the 25% tax-free pension lump sum ahead of the autumn budget in 2025 led to a surge in early withdrawals.

She revealed she made the plea to clamp down on pre-budget policy speculation directly with Chancellor John Healey at a recent event to avoid policyholders making rash decisions with long-term consequences.

Dame Amanda said she wants the government “to not fly kites” ahead of the Budget on October 28.

She said: “We do not want to see new things every week in the press around what might happen in the run-up to the budget.

“That is not very helpful, because what we do not want is for customers to make decisions that they will regret in the long run when policies are not changed.”

She said the group saw a “significant” amount of money withdrawn from pensions due to the worries over impending tax-free lump sum changes, with former chancellor Rachel Reeves ultimately not altering the rules at least autumn’s fiscal event.

“Customers would have been better to wait and see what the Government was going to do,” said Dame Amanda.

“Once you’ve made the decision to take your tax-free lump sum, you cannot reverse the decision.”

She said Mr Healey had made the commitment in person to her at the recent event not to pre-brief on possible policy changes ahead of the Budget.

She also backed wider industry calls for the Government not to alter the tax-free lump sum allowances.

“We would definitely concur that it’s something that shouldn’t be touched,” she said.

She added the government should be “encouraging people to save into their pension” and not “double-taxing people”.

A Treasury spokesperson said: “The Chancellor is fully focused on his priorities, to boost business, help with the cost of living and support people in every postcode.

“As has always been the case, the Chancellor will set out decisions at fiscal events, rather than routinely commenting on rumour, speculation or proposals.”

Aviva’s budget plea came as the firm reported better than expected half-year earnings and cheered action to “quickly” improve profitability at Direct Line since buying the firm in a £3.7 billion deal.

The group posted a 24% surge in operating profits to £1.33 billion for the six months to June 30.

It said the firm had already started to turn around the performance at Direct Line following the acquisition in July last year, boosting price comparison website sales.

Dame Amanda said: “We are making very good progress with the integration of Direct Line. We have quickly improved Direct Line’s profitability, grown price comparison website sales and maintained excellent levels of customer service.

“We are well on track to deliver all the financial benefits of the acquisition.”

Aviva revealed in November last year it was doubling aims for cost savings following the Direct Line deal, having met the £100m original cost-saving target ahead of plan.

The FTSE 100 firm now expects to strip out £225m in costs by 2028 following the deal, though it said at the time this was not set to involve further job cuts, with Aviva having already signalled last December that up to 2,300 jobs could go under the cost-cutting plans.

The results showed on a bottom line basis, interim profits nearly halved to £418m from £819m a year earlier due to a hit from hedging for interest rate and equity exposures, as well as Direct Line integration and restructuring costs.

Aviva also lowered the outlook for its health division, saying it now expects the division to deliver full-year operating profit of £90 million compared with its previous guidance for around £100m.

This is due to “slowing market growth” in consumer and small business markets, according to Aviva.

Regularly choosing the stairs over elevators or escalators is linked to a substantially lower risk of dying from heart disease and from any cause, according to a large analysis of more than 480,000 adults published this week.

People who frequently climbed stairs were 39% less likely to die from cardiovascular causes and 24% less likely to die from any cause compared with those who climbed stairs less often, researchers reported. The habit was also associated with reduced risks of developing major cardiovascular conditions, including heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

The findings come from a systematic review and meta-analysis led by researchers at the University of East Anglia and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in the United Kingdom. The team examined data from nine high-quality studies involving 480,479 participants who were followed for a median of 14 years. Participants ranged in age from 35 to 84, and 53% were women. The group included both healthy individuals and people with a prior history of heart problems.

“Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide — with cases nearly doubling between 1990 and 2019,” said Prof. Vassilios Vassiliou of UEA’s Norwich Medical School. “But it is largely preventable through a healthy lifestyle — including regular physical activity, a heart-healthy diet, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.

“Taking the stairs is a practical and often overlooked way to build physical activity into daily life. We wanted to better understand how this everyday activity could have life-saving potential.”

The researchers reviewed nearly 1,900 studies before focusing on the nine that met their quality criteria. Five of those studies, covering 455,619 people, provided the mortality data that produced the 39% and 24% reductions. Stair climbing was measured in various ways across the studies, including self-reported frequency, ability to climb stairs, or specific numbers of flights.

Dr. Sophie Paddock, a cardiology specialist registrar at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and researcher at UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said the results were consistent across the pooled data. “After pooling results from over 450,000 participants, we found a consistent association between stair climbing and lower risk of both cardiovascular death and overall mortality.

“Unlike going to the gym or doing a workout, climbing the stairs is something you can easily fit into your day at home, at work or when you’re out. It’s a good option for people who don’t have much time or easy access to exercise.

“So if you have the choice of taking the stairs or the lift, go for the stairs as it will help your heart. Even brief bursts of physical activity have beneficial health impacts, and short bouts of stair climbing should be an achievable target to integrate into daily routines.”

Earlier research cited in the analysis indicated that even a few minutes of stair climbing several times a week can improve cardiorespiratory fitness and lower cholesterol levels. One large cohort study included in the review suggested that climbing about six flights of stairs a day — roughly 60 steps — might offer the greatest benefit. Researchers cautioned, however, that more work is needed to establish an ideal “dose.”

“Some of the studies we looked at showed that the more stairs climbed, the greater the health benefits,” Paddock said. “But even small changes had a measurable impact.”

The results add to a growing body of evidence that short, frequent bouts of activity can produce meaningful health gains. More than a quarter of adults worldwide fail to meet recommended physical activity levels, according to the researchers. Stair climbing requires no special equipment, gym membership or dedicated time slot, making it a realistic option for many people.

Vassiliou noted the potential for broader public-health impact. “With more than a quarter of adults worldwide failing to meet recommended activity levels, choosing to take the stairs offers a realistic, scalable intervention. Encouraging people to take the stairs in workplaces, public buildings and homes could form part of a wider strategy to reduce cardiovascular disease at population level.”

The study, titled “Evaluating the Impact of Stair Climbing on Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis,” was published in the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs. It is observational, meaning it shows an association rather than proving that stair climbing itself caused the lower death rates. People who take the stairs more often may also tend to be more active overall or follow other healthy habits. Still, the large sample size and consistent findings across studies strengthen the case for incorporating the activity into daily life.

Researchers emphasized that stair climbing is not suitable for everyone. People with mobility limitations, joint problems or certain medical conditions should consult a doctor before increasing stair use. Future studies using wearable devices could track activity more precisely and help refine recommendations on how much stair climbing is most effective.

The analysis arrives amid ongoing public-health efforts to combat cardiovascular disease, which remains the world’s leading cause of death. Simple lifestyle changes — physical activity among them — continue to rank among the most accessible tools for reducing risk. For those who can safely do so, the choice between stairs and elevator may carry greater weight than previously assumed.

The researchers said their work supports promoting everyday movement in homes, offices and public spaces as part of strategies to improve heart health and longevity on a population scale. While more research will clarify optimal amounts and long-term effects, the current evidence points to a clear message: when the option exists, taking the stairs appears to be a low-barrier step toward better cardiovascular outcomes.

The chief executives of Aviva and Aberdeen have urged the chancellor, John Healey, to prevent leaks about possible tax changes ahead of his first budget on 28 October, warning that speculation before the last two budgets prompted savers to pull money out of their pensions.

Dame Amanda Blanc, chief executive of Aviva, the FTSE 100 insurance and savings group, said she had asked Healey directly not to “fly kites”, the practice of leaking potential policies to gauge the reaction of the public and markets, and to crack down on rumours about the measures he might announce.

Blanc said she raised the issue at a breakfast meeting last month between the chancellor and the bosses of some of the UK’s leading companies.

“I made the point to say please don’t do that, and he made the commitment that they weren’t going to do that, so I hope that that is the case,” she said. “What we don’t want is for customers to make decisions that in the long run they regret when policies are not changed.”

Jason Windsor, chief executive of Aberdeen Group, the FTSE 250 investments and savings company, said: “This new government needs to engage the industry properly to avoid unnecessary and damaging speculation to people’s pensions that has dogged the last two budgets.”

Both budgets under Rachel Reeves, Healey’s predecessor, were preceded by intense speculation, in particular rumours that the government would cut tax-free pension lump sum withdrawals. Under the current rules, savers can from the age of 55 draw down 25 per cent of their pensions tax free, up to a limit of £268,275.

On both occasions the Treasury left the allowance unchanged. Wealth management companies have said the atmosphere was nonetheless damaging because it led some clients to rush to take advantage of the lump sum rules before any change could take effect.

Blanc, who was speaking as Aviva posted bigger than expected first-half profits, said “it was a significant amount of money that was taken out” of retirement pots by customers concerned that Reeves would lower the cap on withdrawals. Aviva oversees £261 billion of assets in its wealth division.

Aberdeen manages about £579.4 billion across its fund management and wealth businesses.

Steven Levin, chief executive of Quilter, the wealth manager that oversees £154.5 billion, said: “Persistent speculation about changes to pension tax rules can create uncertainty and drive behaviour that is not always in savers’ best interests.”

Michael Summersgill, chief executive of AJ Bell, which runs a DIY wealth management platform, wrote to Healey last month asking him to make “an early, public commitment” to leave pension tax-free cash entitlements untouched. He said the chancellor should “act quickly” to avoid a repeat of the “damaging instability” that preceded the last two budgets. AJ Bell has previously reported that customers withdrew about £600 million from their pensions during speculation ahead of the most recent budget.

Blanc has also criticised pension tax measures floated before earlier budgets, including a proposed cap on salary sacrifice schemes.

A Treasury spokesman said: “As has always been the case, the chancellor will set out decisions at fiscal events, rather than routinely commenting on rumour, speculation or proposals.”

Jamie Young

Jamie Young is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, covering SME finance, employment law and Westminster policy since 2016. He has reported on every Budget and Autumn Statement since 2018, helped make sense of the ‘covid era’ and the bounce-back loan scheme from launch through the fraud investigations, and broke the magazine’s coverage of the 2024 late-payment reforms. He joined Business Matters straight from completing his BA in Administration from Exeter University and is NCTJ-qualified. Reach him at jyoung@cbmeg.co.uk