LeBron James is moving on from the Los Angeles Lakers, with reports confirming he intends to suit up for a different NBA franchise during what will be a record-breaking 24th season in the league.
The news from James comes at the same time as another major offseason shakeup — Giannis Antetokounmpo being dealt from Milwaukee to Miami, a city where James previously played and won championships.
On Tuesday, the Lakers issued a formal statement expressing gratitude for James’ time with the organization. Jeanie Buss, a member of the Lakers’ ownership group, offered warm words about the departing star.
“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.”
ESPN was first to report James’ intentions, citing his longtime agent and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul as the source.
As of 6 p.m. EDT Tuesday, the NBA’s free agency window officially opened, allowing James to have preliminary conversations with interested teams. However, he cannot formally sign with any new club until the league lifts its offseason moratorium on July 6.
Multiple teams are expected to pursue James, with Golden State among those being mentioned. Warriors veteran Draymond Green opted out of his $27.6 million player option for the upcoming season earlier this week, a move seen largely as an effort to give the franchise more financial flexibility.
“Personally, I’m always willing to work with the team on whatever is best, especially at this point in my career,” Green said on his podcast, released Tuesday. “So my decision to opt out was for a few reasons. As you all know, I’ve always taken the approach of working with the organization. I’ve been in one place for 14 years. It’s more of a family to me than anything.”
Green’s decision could play a significant role in luring James to Golden State — a team he faced four times in the NBA Finals during his years with Cleveland. James also shares close personal relationships with Green, Stephen Curry, and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
James spent eight seasons with Los Angeles — the longest single stint of his career with one team — and delivered the franchise a championship in 2020. He also broke the NBA’s all-time scoring record while wearing a Lakers uniform.
Looking back at his career path, James launched his professional journey with seven seasons in Cleveland before heading to Miami for four years, where he captured the first two of his four NBA titles. He returned to Cleveland for another four seasons before joining the Lakers in 2018.
At 41 years old — he turns 42 in December — James holds the distinction of being the oldest active player in the NBA. He made history as the first player ever to complete 23 seasons in the league, and this coming year will mark his 24th. He also became the first NBA player to share a court with his own son as a teammate, with Bronny James suiting up alongside him in Los Angeles.
The list of honors James has accumulated throughout his career is unmatched. He is a 22-time All-Star, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a four-time league MVP, a four-time NBA Finals MVP, and a three-time All-Star Game MVP. He was also named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team. This past season, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. For his career, he has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists across more than 1,600 games.
