Gary Payton says there’s ‘good shot’ LeBron joins Warriors if he leaves Lakers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
With the Los Angeles Lakers’ season coming to a close, the LeBron James rumor mill is full go with the 22-time NBA All-Star becoming a free agent for the first time since 2018.
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While James hasn’t spoken much about his future since the team was eliminated from the NBA playoffs Monday, Gary Payton believes that if the 41-year-old doesn’t re-sign with Los Angeles, he could head up to Northern California and join the Warriors.
“There’s a good shot if he leaves, he’s going to Golden State,” Payton said on an episode of “Night Cap” with Shannon Sharpe. “I’m telling you, he’s coming to Golden State if he leaves.”
James played with Steph Curry and Draymond Green while with Team USA in 2024 and 2020, respectively, and played under coach Steve Kerr in 2024 as well.
James has been in California since signing with the Lakers in 2018 and has one NBA Finals win with the legendary franchise during that span.
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While Payton believes James could link up with the four-time champion Warriors, he also thinks it is a long shot that he doesn’t re-sign with LA.
“I don’t think Jeanie Buss going to let him go,” Payton said of the Lakers governor and minority owner. “I don’t think she’s going to let him get nowhere. …I think her, him and Luka they’ll be okay. And I don’t think he wants to give [Los Angeles] up. You know, he got all [those] movie deals and stuff in LA. It’s always sunny there. [He] keeps his body right. I don’t think he comes to the cold. I don’t think he going to go to that cold.”
If James does decide against returning to Los Angeles and signs with Golden State, a starting lineup that consists of him and Curry would like something out of a video game.