LeBron James Informs Lakers He Will Play Elsewhere

LeBron James informed the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere. Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul conveyed the decision to ESPN's Shams Charania. The announcement ends a period that began in 2018 when James signed with the Lakers from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He led the team to an NBA championship in 2020 and won his fourth NBA Finals MVP award. James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA's all-time scoring record in February 2023. The Lakers reached the playoffs in all but two of his seasons with the franchise.

James is the only player in Lakers history to average at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game across more than five consecutive seasons. He reached those marks in each of his eight seasons in Los Angeles, according to ESPN Research.

The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers are among the teams expected to pursue James, sources told Charania.

Former teammates Luka Doncic and Dwight Howard, along with Lakers legends Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, posted public messages after the Lakers shared a statement from president and governor Jeanie Buss. Several NFL teams and college programs posted recruitment-style messages directed at James on social media.