LeBron James is leaving the Lakers. At 41, he plans to play another season

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 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 it clear more championships are his motivation, which means it’s almost certain he’ll pick a team that he believes can contend for an NBA title in 2027.

The Golden State Warriors are believed to be on his list, though there are certainly some who will wonder if reunions with Cleveland and Miami are possible. Or, perhaps, a landing spot awaits in San Antonio, where he could partner 7-foot-4 global megastar Victor Wembanyama.

“I’ve done it all. I’ve seen it all,” James said when the Lakers’ season ended in May – after what was his last game with the franchise. “Just being able to compete and trying to win championships, I think that’s a motivating factor.”

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 — James had said his wife Savannah and 12-year-old daughter Zhuri would have big says in whether he continued to play.

His next decision 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.

The Lakers released a statement on Wednesday (Australia time) thanking James for his eight seasons.

“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” said Jeanie Buss, part of the Lakers’ ownership group.

“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.”

What happens now

James was officially allowed to begin talking to clubs at 8am on Wednesday AEDT, when the league’s free agent period opened. He will not be able to sign with a team until the off-season moratorium is lifted on July 6.

The momentum toward Golden State seemed to pick up when long-time Warriors forward Draymond Green did not exercise his $27.6 million option for this coming season earlier this week in large part to allow his team flexibility to make other roster moves. It doesn’t mean Green won’t be back in Golden State — all indications are that he will – but it gives the team options.

“I’m always willing to work with the team on whatever is best, especially at this point in my career,” Green said on the latest episode of his podcast, which was released on 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 organisation. I’ve been in one place for 14 years. It’s more of a family to me.”

Golden State is a franchise James faced four times with Cleveland in the NBA Finals. He also has close relationships with Green, Stephen Curry and Warriors coach Steve Kerr – Curry was his teammate and Kerr was his coach for USA’s run to the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

James led the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship. He became the NBA’s all-time points leader (43,440) while wearing a Lakers uniform and surpassed a slew of other records while in 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 Cavaliers (he had 11 years there total), and in 2018 he joined the Lakers.

A career like no other

James is the NBA’s oldest active player – he turns 42 in December. He was the first player in league history to log 23 seasons. He also became the first player in the league to have a son as a teammate, with Bronny James playing alongside him with the Lakers. Bronny remains contracted to the Lakers.

Among his accolades, James is 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.

AP