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LeBron James pauses during halftime of Game 6 in the Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston on Friday, May 1, 2026.<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Conley\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
All the LeBron-to-the-Warriors chatter just got very interesting.<\/p>\n
LeBron James informed the Los Angeles Lakers he will play another season in the NBA\u00a0\u2014 but not for them. James told the Lakers he will play for another franchise in 2026-27, according to multiple reports Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n
The news came barely more than 24 hours after Draymond Green<\/a> declined his player option with the Golden State Warriors<\/a>, amid reports the Warriors wanted to pursue James in free agency and Washington\u2019s Anthony Davis in a trade. The Davis deal seems like a longshot, but the possibility of James joining Stephen Curry<\/a> and Green with Golden State suddenly counts as a serious possibility.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Free agency begins at 3 p.m. Tuesday.<\/p>\n The Lakers essentially confirmed James\u2019 decision on X, posting a message titled \u201cThank you, LeBron\u201d from team president Jeanie Buss.<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cLeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,\u201d Buss wrote. \u201cWe will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers\u00a0\u2014 including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold. We wish him all the best in the future, on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family.\u201d<\/p>\n About 90 minutes later, James responded by re-posting the message and thanking the Lakers in return. He wrote, \u201cTruly a honor to wear the \ud83d\udc9c\ud83d\udc9b while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n No, THANK YOU! Truly a honor to wear the \ud83d\udc9c\ud83d\udc9b while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint. \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffe\ud83e\udee1\ud83d\udc51 https:\/\/t.co\/RmQ6uvvgv0<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 LeBron James (@KingJames) June 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n James, 41, joined the Lakers in July 2018, after previous stops with Cleveland, Miami and Cleveland again. He led Los Angeles to the\u00a0NBA title in the pandemic \u201cbubble\u201d in Florida in 2020, and he broke Kareem Abdul Jabbar\u2019s all-time scoring record in February 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n James has since pushed his regular-season total to 43,440 points, well ahead of Abdul-Jabbar (38,387).<\/p>\n That\u2019s only one of many statistical illustrations conveying James\u2019 incomparable career. He\u2019s played in an NBA-record 23 seasons dating to 2003-04, when he made his debut as an 18-year-old with the Cavaliers. James is a 22-time All-Star, 21-time All-NBA selection, four-time MVP and four-time champion.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n If James signs with the Warriors\u00a0\u2014 and they no doubt face stiff competition to land him, including potentially from his former teams in Cleveland and Miami\u00a0\u2014 then next season acquires fresh urgency for Golden State. James turns 42 in December and Curry will turn 39 next March, so the Warriors obviously are hoping to make\u00a0one more run at a championship in the Curry Era.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a>
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