LeBron James has confirmed that he will play in a 24th NBA season – but he will be in search of a new team.
The basketball star has informed the Lakers that he will be competing elsewhere and that the franchise can ‘move on without him,’ according to ESPN.
A bidding war is likely to soon be underway for the services of the 41-year-old in what could be his ‘last dance’ in the 2026-27 campaign.
His departure not only raises questions about his future, but that of his son and Lakers teammate Bronny James as well.
The move was confirmed by Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, who wrote on social media, ‘LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history. 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.’
Hours later, James responded with a tweet of his own, saying, ‘No, THANK YOU! Truly a honor to wear the [purple and gold] while trying to continuing [sic] the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint.’
LeBron James is set to leave the Los Angeles Lakers and will play his 24th NBA season
James’s departure puts the immediate future of the Lakers up for debate as he leaves a vacuum
Rumors have linked James to join USA Olympic teammate Steph Curry on Golden State
Speculation about James’s future has linked him to a return to either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Miami Heat. There is also the possibility he could join USA Olympic teammate Steph Curry on the Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State links have particularly gained steam after rumors suggested the team may be looking to bring in both James and Anthony Davis to make a final push for a title.
Considering his age, it is hard to determine what James’s contract value would be. But his status as the most popular player in the game is enough for any team to consider offering him a deal.
On the court, James also hasn’t shown massive regression in terms of production. In the season aged 41, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 60 games.
His final months with the Lakers were defined by tension with his will-he, won’t-he status for the upcoming season – as well as rumors he didn’t appreciate the way he was being treated by the organization.
There is also the issue of his son, Bronny, who may now be left on his own in Los Angeles.
On Tuesday, Bronny remained on the Lakers’ roster – confirming and guaranteeing the third season of his four-year rookie contract.
But as a source told the Daily Mail, that decision proved to be a key point of contention between James and the Lakers.
James’s departure will open up a bidding war for his services from NBA teams
It may also complicate the dynamic his son, Bronny James, has with the Lakers
‘All the Golden State talk is legit, and LeBron is very interested in going there, but by leaving, he is going to leave his son high and dry and he won’t be there to protect his career that most believe only exists because of him in the first place,’ the source revealed.
‘If LeBron ends up signing with the Lakers, he is expecting Bronny to be signed to a new contract himself. If the Lakers don’t promise that, then he will head to Golden State immediately.’
Now, even though Bronny has a guaranteed contract, James is now off to new pastures – leaving behind a leadership and talent vacuum in Los Angeles that the Lakers will now scramble to fill in free agency.
Within the past week, the Lakers signed two-guard Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million deal to keep him alongside superstar Luka Doncic.
But beyond those two, the Lakers’ roster is in massive need of improvement – with the three-through-five spots projected to be filled by Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and Deandre Ayton.
James leaves behind a complicated legacy with the Lakers. While he did experience success with the team, he was one of the rare examples of an NBA legend choosing Los Angeles – but failing to truly cement himself as a franchise icon.
After arriving in Southern California in 2018 from Cleveland, James won his fourth NBA title with the Lakers in 2020 in what would be the pinnacle of his LA career.
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James won the 2020 Finals with the Lakers, but failed to reach the championship series again
In the years to follow, James and the Lakers would reach the playoffs in five of six seasons – but suffered first-round eliminations in three of them.
They reached the 2023 Western Conference Finals before being swept by the eventual champion Denver Nuggets. This past season, they were swept in the conference semifinals by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
During his time there, James set the record for the most points scored, most games played, most minutes played, most field goals (and field goal attempts) and most turnovers in an NBA career.
He arrived in Los Angeles after his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers – where he made four straight NBA Finals and won the 2016 championship.
Prior to Cleveland, James won a pair of NBA titles as part of the ‘Big Three’ in Miami with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
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