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LeBron James will be in a new destination when he begins his 24th NBA season.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer reportedly told the Los Angeles Lakers that he would be leaving the team in free agency after eight seasons with the organization, according to ESPN.
James joined the Lakers in 2018 after a second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers in which he finally brought a championship to the Ohio city.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts during the first half of game five of the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California on April 30, 2025. (Gary A. Vásquez/Imagn Images)
The Lakers confirmed that James would be leaving.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes ever. We will always be grateful for his eight years with the Lakers, including the title he led us to in 2020 under the most difficult circumstances imaginable and the countless records he broke in purple and gold,” said Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. “We wish him all the best in the future, both on and off the court. He will always be a beloved part of the Lakers family.”
With Los Angeles, James won the 2020 NBA title, his fourth, and surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most points scored in NBA history — he has 43,440 and counting.
Last season, James, who will turn 42 in December, scored a career-low 20.9 points per game but still managed 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game.
The Golden State Warriors are reportedly looking to pair James with Stephen Curry, which would turn one of the NBA’s biggest rivalries into two of the game’s biggest stars fighting for their fifth title together.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James adjusts his chest during the first half against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on December 28, 2025. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)
The Cavaliers could also be in the mix, but Draymond Green has reportedly already opted out of a deal to eventually take even less money with Golden State to make room for James.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles will become Luka Doncic’s team in full. The Lakers acquired him in a blockbuster deal with the Dallas Mavericks last year that is widely considered one of the most lopsided trades in league history.
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The Lakers reportedly wanted James back, but the four-time MVP was ready, even with his son, Bronny, on the team. The Jameses became the first father-son duo who are not only teammates in the NBA, but also active at the same time.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dribbles against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Chase Center on January 25, 2025. (Darren Yamashita/Image Images)
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If it’s Golden State, it would be James’ fourth team. He and Curry teamed up at the 2024 Olympics to bring gold to the United States for the fifth consecutive time.
