MIAMI (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz stepped up with a sales pitch. So did DJ Khaled, the New York Jets, and the Winnipeg Jets. Even the PGA Tour threw its hat in the ring, hoping to appeal to a man who has recently developed a deep passion for golf.
“We’re waiting for you Bron,” the tour posted on social media.
The line forms here. It appears that virtually every team and league in existence wants a piece of LeBron James.
The great LeBron waiting game is now officially underway. The entire basketball world — along with the political, entertainment, football, hockey, and golf worlds — is holding its breath to find out what the NBA’s all-time leading scorer will do when the 2026-27 season rolls around. Two things are certain: he is not walking away from the game just yet, and he will not be suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers.
James made his intentions clear on Tuesday, revealing that he plans to play at least one more season and that his time with the Lakers has come to an end. That news broke just a few hours before the official start of free agency. What comes next — and how long it takes to get there — remains a mystery. Even at his age, James remains one of the most impactful figures in professional sports, and it is unclear whether even he knows how this process will unfold.
DJ Khaled, a familiar face courtside at Miami Heat games, posted a video making his own passionate case for James to return to the city where he won his first two NBA championships. “LeBron James, come on, let’s do it again,” Khaled said. “Come on, man. Let’s do it again. After the game, we’ll go play golf. You know Miami’s the best city in the world.”
A source with knowledge of James’ plans told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he wants his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, to sit down with interested NBA teams first and then report back. That means the online campaigns from the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, and soccer’s Minnesota United are almost certainly a long shot.
James and Paul already had a pretty good idea of what each serious suitor would bring to the table. Cleveland’s argument centers on hometown roots — his career began there, and ending it there would be a fitting story. Miami would point to two title runs, a city James is known to love, the recent addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and his lasting bond with coach Erik Spoelstra and the front office. Golden State would highlight the chance to team up once more with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, two players who connect with James on and off the court.
Gov. Walz tried a different angle, sharing a newspaper article claiming Minnesota ranks highest in the country for quality of life. The New York Jets noted that James wore green and white in high school — a perfect match for their team colors. The Winnipeg Jets went even further, offering to rename themselves the LeWinnipeg Jets.
“Never say never,” the Buffalo Bills posted.
The humor aside, James is clearly worth every ounce of effort any team puts into landing him.
He continues to perform at an All-Star level despite his age. Of the 24 times in NBA history — including playoff games — that a player in his 40s has scored 30 or more points in a single game, James accounts for 17 of them. Before James came along, no player had averaged more than 15 points per game in a season after turning 40. James averaged 24.4 points per game in 2024-25 and 20.9 points this past season, even while frequently serving as the Lakers’ third offensive option.
Wherever James lands, that franchise can expect an immediate jolt of energy. Season ticket packages will sell out in a flash. His Lakers jersey ranked fifth in league-wide sales at the end of the regular season, according to figures from NBAStore.com, Fanatics.com, and Fanatics partner sites. Whatever jersey comes next will fly off shelves the moment it hits stores. And whichever city wins the LeBron sweepstakes will almost certainly feel like a legitimate contender for the 2027 NBA title.
Only James himself knows when this waiting game will finally come to an end.
