NEW YORK (AP) — The basketball world may finally get some answers about LeBron James’ future on Thursday.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a current free agent, is set to speak publicly Thursday afternoon in New York City. The appearance raises the possibility that he could announce his plans for the upcoming season — or at minimum offer some insight into where his decision-making stands.
James will be taping an episode of his podcast, “Mind the Game,” with Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton serving as a guest co-host. The recording is set to take place on the opening day of Fanatics Fest, a four-day gathering in New York that brings together dozens of athletes, celebrities, and sports icons. Organizers have confirmed that single-day general admission tickets are completely sold out. The appearance was announced back in May and has been on the schedule for months.
At 41 years old, James is the oldest active player in the NBA. He is also the only player in league history to have competed across 23 seasons, with the upcoming year set to be his 24th. Speculation about his next move has been building for over two months, dating back to May when the Los Angeles Lakers were knocked out of the NBA playoffs.
Following that elimination, James said he was uncertain about his future. The only concrete update he provided came on June 30, when he confirmed he would continue playing and disclosed that he was departing the Lakers after eight seasons together — a run that included the 2020 NBA championship.
Since that announcement, the league has been waiting more than two weeks to learn what comes next for one of basketball’s greatest players.
James’ list of accomplishments is unmatched in NBA history. He has been selected to the All-Star Game 22 times, earned All-NBA honors 21 times, won four Most Valuable Player awards, claimed four NBA Finals MVP titles, and was named All-Star Game MVP three times. He was also included on the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.
In his most recent season, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. Over the course of his career — spanning more than 1,600 games — he has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per contest.
Thursday’s podcast taping is just the first of two scheduled public appearances for James in New York that day. He is also expected at the Game Plan Summit, a by-invitation-only event presented by CNBC and Boardroom. There, James is slated to sit down with Boardroom co-founder Rich Kleiman — who is longtime business partner to Kevin Durant — to discuss, according to organizers, “how he’s built an empire beyond basketball, what’s ahead for him in business, and why the next generation of athletes is poised to wield more influence than ever before.”
James began his professional career in Cleveland in 2003, spending seven seasons with the Cavaliers before moving to Miami for four years, where he captured his first two NBA titles. He then returned to Cleveland for four additional seasons before departing in 2018 to join the Lakers.
Reports indicate that Cleveland and Miami are once again being considered by James as he evaluates his options. Several other teams — including Philadelphia, Minnesota, and Golden State — are also said to be on his radar.
