sports
LeBron James Declines to Return to Lakers, Becomes Free Agent
LeBron James will not return to the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons and will enter free agency at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday. His agent confirmed he plans to sign elsewhere and will play a 24th NBA season in 2026-27.
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LeBron James will not return to the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons, his agent Rich Paul told ESPN on Tuesday. m. ET and has informed the team he intends to sign elsewhere. Paul also confirmed James will play in the 2026-27 season, extending his NBA record to 24 seasons.
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The Lakers acquired Luka Dončić at the 2025 trade deadline, shifting roster priorities and placing James in a reduced offensive role.
Lakers president Jeanie Buss issued a statement thanking James for his eight seasons, the 2020 NBA title, and the records he set while with the team.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history. 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." — Jeanie Buss, Lakers president James led the Lakers to the 2020 title and became the league's all-time leading scorer in 2023 while wearing a Lakers uniform. He remains a high-level player capable of leading a team through a first-round series.”
The Lakers finished the regular season 15-2 in March behind the James-Dončić-Reaves trio before late injuries ended their postseason run. James guided the team to a first-round upset over the Houston Rockets but was eliminated in the second round. James exercised his player option last offseason while expressing a desire to compete for a championship.
Cap space remains limited across the league, and any new contract would likely require a substantial salary commitment.
