NBA superstar LeBron James will not return to the Los Angeles Lakers, opting to continue his career with a different team after eight seasons with the franchise. James, 41, joined the Lakers in 2018 and was instrumental in their 2020 NBA championship victory.
During his tenure, James played alongside his son, Bronny James, since 2024. Media reports indicate that the league's all-time leading scorer is a target for the Golden State Warriors.
The Lakers expressed gratitude for James' contributions. "LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history," the team stated. "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. We wish him the best in his future, both on and off the court. He will always be a cherished member of the Lakers family."
This past season, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds. A 22-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion, he holds the all-time records for games played with 1,622 and total points with 43,440.
James' career began when he was selected first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. After seven seasons there, he famously announced his move to the Miami Heat in a televised special titled 'The Decision.' He later returned to Cleveland, leading the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship in 2016 by overcoming a 3-1 series deficit against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. His championship with the Lakers in 2020 came nine months after the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, among seven others.