By Staff Reporter
Los Angeles: NBA legend LeBron James will return for a record 24th season but will not be wearing a Los Angeles Lakers jersey, sending shockwaves through the league as the free agency negotiating period opened on Tuesday.
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss confirmed the news in an emotional statement, thanking the 41-year-old superstar for his eight memorable years with the franchise.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” Buss wrote on the Lakers’ official X account. “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.”
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, informed the Lakers of his decision to sign with another team before free agency negotiations began, according to his longtime agent and friend Rich Paul. The four-time NBA champion became a free agent following the Lakers’ second-round playoff exit.
During his tenure with the Lakers, James delivered a championship in the 2020 Covid-19 “bubble” season, won the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, and broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record on February 7, 2023. He also fulfilled a personal dream by playing alongside his son Bronny James after the Lakers drafted him in 2024.
Buss wished James well in his next chapter, stating: “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.”
Speculation has already linked James to a possible return to the Cleveland Cavaliers or Miami Heat — the two other franchises he led to titles — or a move to the Golden State Warriors to team up with close friend Stephen Curry.
Last season was a challenging yet resilient campaign for the 41-year-old. James missed the first month with sciatica but returned to post strong numbers, averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game in the regular season while shooting a career-efficient 51.5 percent from the field.
In the playoffs, he elevated his performance to 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game, helping the Lakers defeat the Houston Rockets in the first round despite the absence of star teammate Luka Doncic. The Lakers, who finished as the fourth seed in the Western Conference, ultimately fell to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round.
James had adapted to a reduced role alongside the younger Doncic, who arrived in a major trade in February 2025 and is now viewed as the Lakers’ centerpiece. The Slovenian star paid tribute to his teammate on Instagram, posting a photo with the caption: “An honor to play with and learn from you ‘King James’.”
