LeBron James will not be returning to the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2026 season, according to his agent, Rich Paul. The announcement came Tuesday morning, just hours after James posted videos of himself working out intensely in the gym.
James shared glimpses of his early morning training session on Instagram, where he was seen engaged in a rigorous workout. In one post, he documented his routine around 5:51 a.m., accompanied by music and a shirtless selfie that highlighted his physique. He captioned the image, "Go hard or go home."
The Lakers had expressed interest in re-signing James, but the decision to move on has been made. James joined the Lakers as a free agent in 2018 and was instrumental in their 2020 NBA championship victory.
During his eight seasons with the Los Angeles franchise, James was an All-Star each year, averaging 26.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
While James' next team has not yet been officially announced, NBA free agency officially began on Tuesday. Speculation about his potential next destinations includes the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers.