LeBron James informed the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday that he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN’s Shams Charania, ending a stint that began when James signed with the franchise in 2018, according to ESPN.
During his time in Los Angeles, James led the Lakers to an NBA championship in 2020 and earned his fourth Finals MVP, ESPN reported. He passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA’s career scoring record in February 2023 while wearing a Lakers uniform, and Los Angeles reached the playoffs in all but two of his seasons with the team.
ESPN Research noted James is the only player in Lakers history to average at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game in more than five consecutive seasons, a mark he reached in all eight of his campaigns in Los Angeles, according to the report.
The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers were listed among the teams expected to pursue James in free agency, sources told Charania, ESPN reported. The report said those clubs were among the likely suitors as the 21st century star becomes available.
James’ decision prompted widespread reaction on social media, ESPN wrote. The report said James sent his thanks to the Lakers after the franchise shared a message from team president and governor Jeanie Buss. ESPN also noted reactions from NBA figures, saying Luka Dončić and Dwight Howard as well as Laker legends Magic Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar chimed in.
The report added that James had been an all-state wide receiver at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, and that some NFL teams and Oklahoma State began courting him now that he is on the free-agent market, ESPN reported.
