LeBron James is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, which means another decision awaits.
A mere 16 years after his first famed “decision” — the one that saw him leave Cleveland for Miami — James is getting ready to change uniforms once again. He has told the Lakers that his eight-year run with them is over and he’ll play a record-extending 24th NBA season elsewhere.
James has made clear many times in recent years that more championships are his motivation, which means it’s almost certain he’ll pick a team that he believes can contend for the NBA title in 2027. Golden State is believed to be on his list, though there are certainly some who will wonder if reunions with the Cavaliers and Heat are possible. Or, perhaps, a new landing spot awaits such as San Antonio, where he could partner with 7-foot-4 global megastar Victor Wembanyama.
The first half of his decision is complete: He’s back for at least one more year, which means his family agreed to that part of the plan.
His next decision — where to play — is among the biggest dominoes that will fall during the NBA’s off-season player movement window, alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded by Milwaukee to Miami.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” said Jeanie Buss, part of the Lakers’ ownership group, in a statement on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
“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.”
James’ tenure with the Lakers was the longest he spent in one stint with an NBA team, becoming the league’s career scoring leader while wearing purple and gold.
He spent the first seven years of his career in Cleveland, then left for four years in Miami, where he won the first two of his four championships. That was followed by another four-year stint with the Cavs and in 2018 he joined the Lakers.
James, 41, is the NBA’s oldest active player, was the first player in league history to log 23 seasons and became the first player to have a son as a teammate, with Bronny James playing alongside him in LA.
He’s a 22-time All-Star, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a four-time Most Valuable Player, a four-time NBA Finals MVP, a three-time All-Star Game MVP and was part of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team. He’s coming off a season where he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, and for his career, he’s averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists in more than 1600 games.
“He created a whole new era for the Lakers, including leading us to an NBA Championship in 2020 and all the milestones he surpassed in a Lakers jersey,” Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson wrote on social media.
“I’ll always love and be grateful for him and wish him all the best in the next phase of his life, on and off the court!”
