LeBron James reportedly tells Lakers he will leave team in free agency

LeBron James will be in a new destination when his 24th NBA season commences.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer reportedly told the Los Angeles Lakers that he would leave the team in free agency after eight seasons with the organization, according to ESPN.

James joined the Lakers in 2018 after a second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers in which he finally brought a championship to the Ohio city.

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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts during the first half of game five in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif., on Apr. 30, 2025. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)

The Lakers confirmed James would be departing.

“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history. 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,” Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said. “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.”

With Los Angeles, James won the 2020 NBA title, his fourth, and passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points scored in NBA history — he is at 43,440 and counting.

This past season, James, who will turn 42 in December, scored 20.9 points per game, the lowest mark of his career, but still managed 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per contest.

The Golden State Warriors are reportedly looking to pair James with Stephen Curry, which would turn one of the NBA’s greatest rivalries into two of the game’s greatest stars fighting for their fifth title together.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James adjusts his chest during the first half against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Dec. 28, 2025. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)

The Cavaliers could also be in the mix, but Draymond Green has already reportedly opted out of a deal to eventually take even less money with Golden State to make room for James.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles will now fully be Luka Doncic’s team. The Lakers acquired him in a blockbuster deal with the Dallas Mavericks last year that is widely regarded as one of the most lopsided trades in the history of the league.

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The Lakers reportedly wanted James back, but the four-time MVP was all set — even with his son, Bronny, on the team. The James’ became the first father-son duo to not only be teammates in the NBA, but also to be active at the same time.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dribbles against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Chase Center on Jan. 25, 2025. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images)

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If it is Golden State, it would be the fourth team for James. He and Curry teamed up in the 2024 Olympics to bring gold back to the United States for the fifth time in a row.

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