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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – After eight years, LeBron James will reportedly not return to the Los Angeles Lakers.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday, June 30, that the NBA’s all-time leading scorer told the Lakers he intends to play elsewhere in the 2026-2027 season.
With James free to sign anywhere, some favorites have emerged.
Among those favorites are the Golden State Warriors and James’ hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.
One team that could — perhaps, maybe? — be flying under the radar is the Charlotte Hornets. Why’s that?
Well, if you didn’t know, LeBron apparently “loves” the popular Charlotte-based chicken chain, Bojangles.
ESPN personality Ryan McGee — who just so happens to have deep Carolina roots — talked about James’ love for Bojangles during a 2024 appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
“Did you know LeBron James loves Charlotte?” McGee asked McAfee during that appearance. “And the reason he loves Charlotte is because Bojangles — I’m not making this up — Bojangles chicken.
“When LeBron James was a rookie, the deal was he would leave games at the old Hive … the takeaway food you get on the plane after a game for the visiting team was a little two-piece box of fried chicken from Bojangles. So LeBron James became so obsessed with Bojangles, he would on the plane — as a rookie — hand out cash. He would take it all home.
“And finally, he would send the clubhouse attendant to go buy, like, one of these tailgate packs to take back to Cleveland with him.”
Charlotte certainly isn’t among the favorites to land the 41-year-old basketball legend, but perhaps it hasn’t thrown enough cajun seasoning or Bo-Berry biscuits James’ way.
The Hornets have a bit of an identity crisis after trading away LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges within the past week, but if Bojangles is enough to lure the man they call “King James,” then the basketball legend could fill a King-sized hole in the Queen City.
In all seriousness, the Hornets seemingly have virtually no chance of bringing in the 22-time All-Star. But then again, your phone could spontaneously combust while reading this. So, who really knows?
LeBron James — reportedly a big Bojangles fan — is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after 8 seasons.(AP/Bojangles)
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