LeBron Will Return This Season. Just Not With the Lakers.
James informed the Lakers that he won't be coming back to the team for his 24th season.
After eight seasons with the purple and gold, LeBron James will move on from the Lakers to don another team’s colors. Jeannie Buss, controlling owner, President, and Governor of the Lakers released a statement in response, thanking James for his many years with the team.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” 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.”
Speculation is rampant as to where James might land. The Golden State Warriors have been pushing hard to assemble a “Big Four” of James, Curry, Draymond Green, and Anthony Davis. Draymond Green recently declined a $27.7 million player option, presumably to make room for James under the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (MLE).
Assuming the deal can be made to unite these four players, they would need to make a push for a championship this year. At 42 in December, James will likely retire after this season, and the youngest of the four is Anthony Davis, at 33. That said, even with their advanced ages, I think they could be contenders, especially if they hang on to Porziņğis and he stays healthy.
Aside from the Golden State Warriors, other teams in the rumor mix have been the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.
Latest updates:
7/1/26 - Washington has said that Anthony Davis is off the table, though I’m not sure what that means, exactly. Surely, there is something they would trade him for. I’m thinking the only player who is truly off the table for Washington is AJ Dybantsa.