Category: Basketball

The next decision for LeBron James is here, and it could once again alter the NBA landscape. The league's all-time leading scorer has informed the Los Angeles Lakershe plans to play elsewhere during the 2026-27 season, according to multiple reports on Tuesday, June 30 ahead of the start to the league's free agency period.

James will be the most coveted free agent on the market despite entering his record 24th NBA season, especially if he's willing to take a pay cut. He signed with the Lakers ahead of the 2018-19 NBA season and won the 2020 NBA championship in the COVID bubble with the franchise. The 41-year-old is just a year removed from earning all-NBA honors.

The Golden State Warriors are considered the front-runners to sign James after Draymond Green's decision to opt out of his contract to provide the team with financial flexibility. But it would involve James taking less money than he's used to and there are other potential suitors, including James' two former teams.

Here's a breakdown of the potential NBA free agent landing spots for James now that he has informed the Lakers that he plans to play elsewhere during the 2026-27 season:

NBA FREE AGENCY LIVE UPDATES: Trades, signings, latest buzz and intel

LeBron James landing spots

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have emerged as early favorites to land James given recent developments. If James is willing to take the midlevel exception of about $15 million, there's a relatively straightforward path for him to join Steph Curry and Green on Golden State's roster next season.

Cleveland Cavaliers

A return to Cleveland has long been considered a possibility for James, who could provide the veteran boost the Cavaliers need to get over the hump in the Eastern Conference with their current nucleus. James Harden's decision to agree to a new contract should give Cleveland enough flexibility to make this work, either through the midlevel exception or a sign-and-trade.

Miami Heat

Would James want to join forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo for a major discount? That's likely what it would take to make a return South Beach happen. It's also unclear if James and Antetokounmpo could work along with Bam Adebayo. But Pat Riley has always taken big swings. Snagging James and Giannis in the same offseason would be the ultimate one.

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are a longshot in this process, but the prospect of pairing James with Nikola Jokic would create one of the most basketball savvy duos ever. Denver could make this work as a sign-and-trade, or if James is willing to take a veteran's minimum salary.

Los Angeles Lakers

James told the Lakers he plans to play elsewhere, but the Lakers are still the team that can pay him the most money given its cap situation. Perhaps James finds a better fit elsewhere. Maybe the Lakers do the same with another player. But don't completely close the door on James and the Lakers, if only because more money and leverage can always change minds.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where will LeBron James play after Lakers exit? Five potential landing spots

LeBron James has shocked the basketball world with his latest career update that he will not return to the Los Angeles Lakers in his 24th season. 

James’ announcement comes on the day of free agency, which officially begins at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, June 30. 

ESPN insider Shams Charania first reported that James, 41, informed the team that they can begin to move on without him as he pursues his NBA future as a free agent.

James joined the Lakers in the summer of 2018 and has spent the last eight seasons in L.A., leading the team to an NBA championship in 2020, where he was named Finals MVP. He was named an All-Star every season he played in a Lakers' uniform. James averaged 25.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game on 51.3% field goal shooting and 35.6% 3-point shooting during his eight seasons in LA.

The big announcement which came from James' agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, has sparked interest and think pieces around the sports world. Many expressed their gratitude for James, including former teammate Luka Doncic, Lakers president Jeannie Buss and Laker legend and former president of basketball operations Magic Johnson.

Here’s how the sports world reacted:

Sports world reacts to LeBron James not returning to Lakers

Thank you, LeBron 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/SW910ZVqSu

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 30, 2026

Luka Doncic’s reaction to LeBron James moving on: “An honor to play with and learn from you” pic.twitter.com/CleXLdscC9

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 30, 2026

I want to thank LeBron James and his super agent Rich Paul for taking a meeting with me back in 2018 when I was President of the Lakers and deciding to sign with us. He created a whole new era for the Lakers, including leading us to an NBA Championship in 2020 and all the…

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 30, 2026

Breaking: LeBron James will continue his NBA career for the 2026-27 season and has informed the Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, his agent told @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/3uYVROBrH1

— ESPN (@espn) June 30, 2026

Heard he's a free agent pic.twitter.com/w7CDE1MAEj

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) June 30, 2026

"This feels like a breakup that you want the other person to do the breaking up. Like, I think the Lakers are ready to move into the Luka Dončić era of Los Angeles."

—@DavidDTSS on LeBron potentially walking away from the Lakers 👀 pic.twitter.com/RIusClmnTt

— First Take (@FirstTake) June 30, 2026

pic.twitter.com/uQfH3k6baF

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 30, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Sports world reacts as LeBron James won't play for Lakers in 24th season

After showing promise in his sophomore season, the Lakers will continue investing in Bronny James.

On Monday, the team guaranteed Bronny’s contract for next season, set at $2.3 million, by keeping him on the roster. Keith Smith of Spotrac reported the news on Tuesday.

Bronny James' contract with the Los Angeles Lakers became fully guaranteed for $2.3M yesterday.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 30, 2026

Naturally, given how LeBron’s free agency is currently playing out, the assumption is to tie the decision on Bronny’s with LeBron. Fans will certainly race to that conclusion. But Bronny has been his own player and treated as such for quite some time.

The Lakers have spent quite a bit of time developing Bronny. For the first year and a half of his time in LA, Bronny’s playing time with the parent Lakers was either ceremonial minutes with his father, in garbage time or in games where players were being rested en masse.

However, late in his second season, he emerged as an option off the bench amid an injury crisis. He played well enough to see minutes in the postseason and had a memorable moment alongside LeBron in the series against the Rockets.

Even if he was phased out of the rotation as the games started mattering more, it was not just a sign of progress, but the first time Bronny had looked like a rotation-level player.

For the Lakers, it was enough of a sign to keep him around for next season. His contract is now fully guaranteed for the season, meaning he’ll likely be on the roster barring a trade.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

The Atlanta Hawks have re-signed another one of their midseason pickups from last season. First, it was playoff hero CJ McCollum one a one-year, $21 million deal. Now, reportedly they locked down their Aussie big man with a similar offer per Shams Charania of ESPN:

Free agent center Jock Landale intends to sign a one-year, $14 million deal to return to the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell ESPN. Landale had a strong finish after being traded to the Hawks, averaging 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds last season, and his agents Sammy Wloszczowski and… pic.twitter.com/GfR3rzSlPY

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026

The Hawks picked up Landale for essentially free (well, cash considerations), and he stepped into the role as the backup center after the team parted ways with Kristaps Porzingis.

He exploded for a career-high 26 points in his first game with Atlanta in a win over the Utah Jazz. Overall, he averaged 9.1 points (60% true shooting) and 4.1 rebounds per game on 19.4 minutes per contest in his 23 games after literally driving in his car from Memphis to Atlanta.

Most importantly is his ability to stretch the floor as a big, hitting 39% of his threes while forming a great partnership with his country-mate Dyson Daniels.

Unfortunately, a dirty foul by Goga Bitadze ended his regular season and postseason prematurely due to the ankle injury he suffered early April.

LeBron James is no longer a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and will be a free agent starting at 6 PM Eastern tonight. There’s been a lot of speculation about him joining forces with Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. But don’t count out a reunion with the Cleveland Cavaliers just yet.

Veteran NBA insider for NBA on Prime and former beat reporter in Cleveland during the 2014-15 season, Chris Haynes, reported that the Cavs are indeed interested in adding James to the roster.

Cleveland Cavaliers have interest in a second reunion with LeBron James with the appeal of the franchise’s greatest player finishing his career where it all started, league sources tell me.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 30, 2026

It’s easy to see the appeal of a third tour of duty in Cleveland for both sides.

The Cavs are a good team, but are a playmaking wing away from being true championship contenders, as the New York Knicks showed them in their four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals. Adding James would give this roster the versatility needed to possibly get over the hump in the postseason.

Being on a title team again is reportedly LeBron’s goal. James’s agent, Rich Paul, told The Athletic’s Dan Woike that his client “wants to compete for championships.” From that perspective, their goals align.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said that James is prioritizing “happiness, not money” next season. What that means is anyone’s guess. No one besides LeBron truly knows what he’s looking for in terms of happiness.

This is where playing for the Warriors could interfere with a reunion in Cleveland. Even though there are questions about whether an older core featuring Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler could compete for a championship, James might not see it that way. And the appeal of teaming up with friends while staying in California may be too much for him to ignore.

There’s also the question about how much the Cavs could afford to play LeBron.

The Cavs’ roster currently has some flexibility. James Harden declining his player option for next season has the Cavs $42.1 million under the second apron. Harden is expected to re-sign, but the annual value could help the Cavs open up room for the taxpayer mid-level exception.

Additional moves would be needed if the Cavs were going to open up the full mid-level exception of $15 million. The Cavs are reportedly looking for suitors for players like Dennis Schroder, which could give them more cap flexibility. Additionally, a sign-and-trade with the Lakers could still be an option if the deal were to bring Cleveland below the first apron.

At this point, it’s anyone’s guess how this will play out or what James truly values. What we do know at this time is that the Cavs are interested in a LeBron reunion and have a roster that would allow him to compete for a championship next season. And they’re also close to some golf clubs he just joined.

We’ll see if that’s enough to secure his services for one last run.

NBA free agency is in full swing and there’s a couple Hoosiers who are staying put with their current teams.

Thomas Bryant, who spent the 2025-26 season with the Eastern Conference runner-up Cleveland Cavaliers, recently inked a one year deal to return to Cleveland. Trayce Jackson-Davis, who was traded from the Golden State Warriors to the Toronto Raptors during the 2025-26 season, had his team option picked up by the Raptors.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Hoosiers today:

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What they’re saying about the Hoosiers

• Fear the Sword:Thomas Bryant to return to Cavs on a one-year deal
• CBS Sports:Raptors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis: Raptors pick up option
• Inside the Hall:‘I’m just more comfortable:’ IU basketball’s Trent Sisley looks to build consistency
• The Athletic:Who is the USMNT of college football? Debating Texas A&M, Indiana, UNC and more
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We’ve arrived at NBA free agency day, the time of year when, if you’re not careful, your phone starts exploding with transaction notifications. It’s one of the busiest days on the NBA calendar, as free agency officially begins at 3 p.m. Arizona time.

For the Phoenix Suns, much of the heavy lifting has already been done. They’ve re-signed unrestricted free agents Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin, brought back restricted free agent Mark Williams, traded Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale for Miles Bridges, and selected Koa Peat in the first round of the NBA Draft.

As things currently stand, the Suns sit at a projected $208.9 million in salary, placing them just below the first apron. T

The team has 14 of its 15 roster spots filled. That’s not an unfamiliar position for Phoenix. The organization has often preferred to keep one roster spot open, giving itself added flexibility as the season unfolds.

But after sending out so much shooting in the trade for Miles Bridges, the Suns now have a glaring need. They need shooting off the bench. More specifically, they need a veteran presence who can consistently space the floor. So the question becomes whether they choose to fill that final roster spot today when free agency opens. Phoenix has roughly $6.1 million available through the mid-level exception to offer the right player. Whether they decide to use it immediately remains to be seen, but that’s what we’ll be watching throughout the day.

We shared names that could be available for the Suns to target, and a couple of those names have already fallen to the wayside. Landry Shamet is expected to return to the Knicks, while Kevin Huerter is going to re-sign with the Pistons. The list that Arizona Sports Suns insider John Gambadoro has been whittled down to the following:

• Collin Sexton
• Luke Kennard
• Jordan Clarkson
• De’Anthony Melton

At the same time, we’ll be keeping an eye on the rest of the Western Conference, evaluating every move and asking the same question after each transaction. Did those teams get better? And in comparison, did the Suns get worse?

Time to turn those notifications on. It’s NBA free agency day…

Four-time NBA champion LeBron James is set to leave the Los Angeles Lakers and enter free agency, with plans to continue his career into a record-setting 24th season.

James, who will turn 42 in December, informed the Lakers that he intends to play elsewhere next season, continuing a career that has already spanned more than two decades at the highest level.

ESPN’s Shams Charania first broke the news, with LeBron’s agent Rich Paul announcing that his client is ready to move for a final chapter elsewhere.

After eight seasons with the Lakers, including leading the franchise to the 2020 NBA championship, James departs and enters free agency set to join a new team.

Lakers president Rob Pelinka and Rich Paul spoke a short time ago about the four-time champion's plans, sources said.… https://t.co/QPwbkJi9OJ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026

The decision marks the end of an eight-year run in Los Angeles and signals a final episode in LeBron’s soon-to-be 24-year NBA career, with the forward already being the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

“BREAKING: LeBron James will continue his NBA career for the 2026-27 season and has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN.” — Shams Charania

As old as he is, James averaged 20.9 points per game — extending his streak to 23 consecutive seasons with at least 20 points — while shooting 51.5 percent from the field. He also contributed 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game, pretty much carrying the Lakers by himself into the second round of the playoffs.

Throughout his career, James has earned a place in 21 All-NBA teams, only to see his near-career-long streak finished last season. A five-time MVP, James entered the league all the way back in 2003 when the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick.

James’ best recent season came in 2020, two years after he joined the Lakers, when he won the title in the NBA Bubble. Career-wise, James will enter his final season averaging 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. He’s also a 50.7% shooter from the field, 34.8% from three, and 73.7% from the charity stripe.

With this news, LeBron is becoming an unrestricted free agent and thus making himself available for all 29 franchises not playing basketball inside the Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers expressed to James that they wanted him back, but the NBA's all-time leading scorer decides to move on elsewhere. https://t.co/hGhK4gGd42

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026

The Golden State Warriors (per Jake Fischer) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (per Chris Haynes) are the two most obvious landing spots for James, whether that’s for the relationships he built throughout his career representing the USA alongside Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Steve Kerr, or simply for returning home to play basketball in Ohio amid his upcoming retirement tour. The Miami Heat (per Jake Fischer) could be a third potential destination with past links to James, but Miami hasn’t popped up frequently in the rumor mill, and the arrival of Giannis could be enough to deter James from joining a team with a Luka-like franchise player already in tow.

When it comes to the Knicks, it’s hard to envision LeBron signing a deal to play in New York. Back in mid-May, I floated the idea of the Knicks signing LeBron depending on the season outcome, and a solid discussion emerged in The Feed. Obviously, given the Knicks’ financial situation, the options have come down to just two: offering him a minimum deal or letting him sign elsewhere without even caring. If you ask(ed) me, I was and still am team vet-min offer.

That said, after James spent the past 15 years showing love to MSG but always ditching the franchise to set camp in warmer locales, it’s hard to even think the Knicks would do more than due diligence and submit a veteran minimum contract to Rich Paul, just in case and if anything at all, which for all intents and purposes would do James more of a favor than the other way around in this the year 2026 of our Lord.

But I must say that having a player of James’ talent and production coming off the bench or splitting time with the likes of Josh Hart, taking only a couple millions from your cap, is something I wouldn’t complain about…

No, THANK YOU! Truly a honor to wear the 💜💛 while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint. 🙏🏾🫡👑 https://t.co/RmQ6uvvgv0

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 30, 2026

You can follow Antonio on Twitter at @chapulana.

LeBron James looks set to leave the Los Angeles Lakers, with ESPN reporting he has told the team he will continue his NBA career but with a different team.

James will turn 42 during the 2026-27 season but his long-time representative, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, said the 22-time All-Star intends to continue his playing career. However, he intends to do so away from the Lakers, with whom he won a championship in 2020.

Related: Gravity is undefeated: Ja Morant’s spectacular fall back to Earth is complete

Reports on Monday indicated the Golden State Warriors are looking to sign James, setting up a union with his old rivals Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. The Warriors are also understood to be looking at signing Anthony Davis. The window for free agency negotiation opens at 6pm ET on Tuesday.

James is a 22-time All-Star, claiming the honor every year from 2005 to 2026 and has been league MVP four times, a total bettered only by Michael Jordan, Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. James’s longevity – and brilliance – means he owns a host of NBA records, including most minutes played, most points scored and most All-Star appearances.

Across his career he has averaged 26.8 points per game, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists. He has also played long enough that last season his eldest son, Bronny, became his teammate at the Lakers.

Rumors are rumors until they’re not, and today they very much became “not.”

Let’s set the scene. Free agency is about to open up and within minutes the timeline turns into a fireworks show. Shams Charania drops the bomb: LeBron James is continuing his career for 2026-27, and he’s told the Lakers directly that they can move on without him because he’s going to play somewhere else. Read that again. Not “exploring his options.” Not “evaluating the market.” He told the Lakers it’s over. That’s not a rumor floating around a group chat. That’s a WRAP.

BREAKING: LeBron James will continue his NBA career for the 2026-27 season and has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/zzVk6xUVF1

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026

And here’s where Golden State fans should sit up straight. Hours before that bombshell, Draymond Green declined his $27.6 million player option. For weeks, league sources made clear that move only happens if it unlocks real financial flexibility, the kind you use to chase a difference-maker, not the kind you use to save a few bucks on a bench piece. Green doesn’t walk away from guaranteed money for nothing. He walks away from it when the front office whispers “we might actually have a shot at something.”

Now stack Kristaps Porzingis re-signing on a two-year, $40 million deal right behind it. On the surface that complicates the math for fitting James under the full $15.1 million midlevel exception. But complicated isn’t the same as impossible, and the Warriors have spent the better part of a year quietly building toward exactly this kind of swing. Green, James, and Anthony Davis all share an agent in Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, which is the NBA equivalent of three people having the same group chat where the real decisions get made.

Here’s the part that should make your palms sweat a little. League sources believe Davis could be the actual lure, not James himself. James and Davis won a title together in 2020 and remain close. If Golden State can find a path to put both of them in the Bay, you’re not talking about a depth move. You’re talking about reshaping the entire Western Conference power structure overnight.

LeBron James appears to be nearing a “below-market-price” contract to join Stephen Curry and Draymond Green on the Warriors, per @timkawakami.

This might actually happen… 🤯

(h/t @TheNBABase) pic.twitter.com/tdfbu5suzJ

— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) June 30, 2026

But let’s not skip the part that makes this complicated and human. Any realistic Davis package almost certainly runs through Jimmy Butler, who is four months removed from ACL surgery and has heard the trade rumors before. His agent, meanwhile, insists the organization remains committed to him through rehab.

That tension, wanting championship upside while owing loyalty to a guy who bled for this team, is the real story here. Not just “will LeBron come.” It’s “what is this front office willing to risk, and who is willing to walk so this gamble pays off.”

Today was supposed to be speculation. Instead, it was the first domino. Buckle up.

LeBron James is continuing his record-setting NBA career, but he won’t do it with the Lakers.

The 41-year-old superstar informed the Lakers he felt it was best to part ways, The Times confirmed. James, who will extend his own NBA record for seasons played to 24, is pursuing a contract with another NBA team, according to people familiar with the situation but not authorized to discuss it publicly.

James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game last season for the Lakers while claiming a slew of NBA records, including marks for games played, all-time wins and field goals made. After eight seasons with the Lakers, he became an unrestricted free agent and flirted with retirement. Despite his age, he was still considered one of the top free agents in a relatively pedestrian class.

James earned his record 22nd All-Star appearance last season, maintained his streak of averaging more than 20 points per game every season of his career and willed a shorthanded Lakers team past the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs last season.

Read more:Plaschke: For the sake of their future, Lakers should bid farewell to LeBron James

But he also gave up ground in his decades-long bout with Father Time.

James missed the first 14 games of the season while dealing with a right sciatic nerve issue, marking the first time in his career that he wasn’t ready to suit up for the season opener. His 15.3 field goal attempts per game was a career low, and he was ineligible for end-of-season awards because he missed 22 regular-season games, ending his streak of 21 years with All-NBA honors.

The Lakers needed James to reach the second round of the Western Conference playoffs last season — when the team was without star Luka Doncic for the entire postseason — but the NBA’s all-time leading scorer was set to take a supporting role within the franchise.

Doncic, 27, remains the top priority for the Lakers. Doncic signed a three-year, $165-million contract extension last summer. The Lakers also wanted to keep 28-year-old Austin Reaves, who declined a player option to position himself for a well-deserved raise during a critical summer for the Lakers.

With eight players from last year’s roster entering unrestricted free agency or holding player options, the Lakers were in position to completely remake their roster around Doncic two offseasons after the Slovenian superstar landed in the Lakers’ laps in a mind-blowing trade with the Dallas Mavericks.

President of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said after the season that the roster would be “retrofitted” around Doncic, meaning the Lakers wanted to target athletic, defensive-minded wings, knock-down shooters and a rim-running center.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

LeBron James has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will not be playing for them next season. He’s permitted them to move on without him, as he plans on changing teams for the fourth time in his multi-decade-long career.

BREAKING: LeBron James will continue his NBA career for the 2026-27 season and has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/zzVk6xUVF1

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026

James is no stranger to dominating free agency. His name has been thrown around for weeks as various teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, wondered if they could pry him from LA. The first step is complete.

Now for the finale.

The Warriors emerged as real threats to acquire James this week. They’ve been reworking their roster to pave the way for a free agency signing. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported today that the Warriors are primarily focused on signing James once free agency opens up at 6 PM Eastern.

Marc Stein has also listed the Warriors as the frontrunners to sign LeBron.

Seeing James in a Warriors uniform would undoubtedly break the hearts of every Ohioan. There are certain unwritten rules to sports, and fans will understandably be upset to see James finish his career with a team that was arguably his biggest rival throughout.

Nonetheless, Cavs fans can cling to hope that this is shaping up for another homecoming. James ending his reign in Cleveland is the storybook ending that many have predicted. The door is now as open as it’s ever been for James to complete that dream and fill a massive hole in the roster while he does it.

Cleveland needs support on the wing. Preferably someone who can handle the ball and accomplish multiple things on offense. James ticks that box to perfection. He might not be an elite defensive player anymore, but he has the size and veteran-savvy of someone who can still make a difference.

Adding James in free agency is the ultimate win for the Cavs. They don’t need to give up any assets to acquire him via trade anymore. The pairing works on paper and is a narrative success that bodes well for LBJ’s legacy. All that’s left is to sign on the dotted line and make this happen.

Buckle up. James will be on a new team soon.

The King is coming back — We just don't know where.

NBA icon LeBron James, the league’s all-time leading scorer, has reportedly agreed to return to the NBA, according to initial reporting from ESPN's Shams Charania. This brings him back for the 2026-27 season, which will be his 24th and will extend his record for most seasons played in NBA history.

"LeBron James will continue his NBA career for the 2026-27 season and has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN," Charania wrote on X.

This comes in the wake of Los Angeles getting swept in the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a series in which the Lakers were missing star player and NBA leading scorer Luka Dončić.

James will become an unrestricted free agent after he played the final season of his contract in 2025-26, which was a player option. James and his agent, Rich Paul, had acknowledged in June 2025 that the Lakers were building for the future – a future that seemingly may not have included James.

LeBron's final days as Laker star

The Lakers played extremely well down the stretch during the games when James, Dončić and Austin Reaves were healthy and available. Los Angeles won 16 of the 18 games prior to April 2, which was the night Dončić suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. The Lakers then lost three consecutive (including the game that Dončić left early), but James was instrumental in elevating the play of the Lakers, who also missed Reaves for extended stretches.

In particular, James, who turns 42 in December, was exceptional during the first-round series against the Rockets, a series Los Angeles won in six games.

Although he tied for the lowest scoring average of his career this season, James nonetheless scored 20.9 points per game, adding 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds, and shot 51.5% from the field, 31.7% on 3-pointers and 73.7% on free throws. He made the All-Star team for a league-record 22nd consecutive time.

LeBron James stats, records

A 22-time All-Star and four-time Most Valuable Player, James is also a four-time NBA champion – with four NBA Finals Most Valuable Player trophies along the way. He’s a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and had stops with the Cavaliers (twice), the Miami Heat and the Lakers. He won at least one NBA championship with each squad.

James is also a three-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012, 2024) and won bronze in 2004.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, after the Lakers drafted his eldest son, Bronny, the pair also became the first father-son duo to appear in a regular season game together, in a 110-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

James already holds several NBA all-time records, including points scored (43,440), field goal attempts (31,502), minutes played (61,030) and he also holds the all-time record for nearly every major individual playoff statistic.

It remains to be seen where his next chapter will unfold.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James returns for record 24th NBA season but ditches Lakers: Live updates

The Knicks are NBA champions, but they aren’t resting on their laurels.

New York completed the 2026 NBA Draft with a couple of second-round rookies added to the organization, but failed to land a big man through two rounds of silliness. That could have been no problem had any of Mitchell Robinson or Ariel Hukporti been re-signed, but the former looks like a goner, and the latter is already set to become a UFA later today.

Enter Keith Palek III, who’s not your typical big but still long enough to fill a frontcourt.

According to ESPN’s Josh Hennig, Palek signed a free-agent deal with the Knicks to play for their Summer League team after going undrafted.

“Palek III is joining the Knicks for practice July 4th weekend, and will be flying out with the team to Las Vegas for the 2026 NBA Summer League. He received interest from the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons, but decided to sign with the 2025-26 NBA Champions.”

The agreement actually happened on June 25, less than two weeks after New York beat the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals and ended its 53-year championship drought, but nobody seemingly realized. Yikes!

Missouri State has one of the most versatile players in college basketball in 6’10 Forward Keith Palek III

Palek has been one of the best mid major players in the country this season where he’s averaging 18/7/4. Palek was also a standout in D2 where he averaged 18/7/3 and shot… pic.twitter.com/Q1Am6xZztK

— KJ (@KJScouting) February 12, 2026

Palek is a 6-foot-9 forward from Woodbine, New Jersey, and a St. Augustine Prep graduate. He also took a much longer route to this point than most players who wind up wearing an NBA practice jersey in Las Vegas.

Palek began his college career at Division II California University of Pennsylvania, where he averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 88 games. His final season there was limited to six games because of injury, but he still averaged 18.8 points before transferring to Missouri State for his last year of eligibility.

The jump to Division I worked out about as well as he could have hoped, as Palek led Missouri State in scoring at 17.3 points per game, finished second on the team with 6.4 rebounds per game, and led the Bears with 121 total assists. He also made 40 three-pointers (albeit shooting 25.5% from beyond the arc on 157 attempts), finished second on the team with 33 steals, and earned second-team All-Conference USA honors.

Palek became the first Missouri State player to finish a season with at least 500 points, 200 rebounds, and 100 assists. Missouri State finished 16-18 overall and 8-12 in Conference USA, so this was not exactly a national-stage breakout, but the production was real.

According to ESPN’s report, the Bears’ standout also had some NBA interest before landing with the Knicks. He worked out for the Boston Celtics in May, and he told the Daily Citizen that the Detroit Pistons invited him to a workout before flight cancellations kept it from happening. Suck it!

“I feel NBA scouts liked my size and versatility, the ability to play multiple positions and play different roles,” Palek said.

When it comes to Palek’s added value to the Summer League squad, he will bring some much-needed size, strong overall production across the board, passing touch, and enough shooting to justify a look, even though the efficiency isn’t that great, as he seems to love any and every shot he takes.

The Knicks’ Summer League roster is expected to include several players already familiar to the organization and fans alike, including guards Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet, wing Kevin McCullar Jr., and big Mo Diawara, along with incoming rookies Jack Kiyan and Tyler Nickel. No, I didn’t forget Ariel Hukporti—he just doesn’t belong anymore. That said, it will feature St. John’s guard Oziyah Sellers. Yay!

New York is scheduled to open Summer League play in Las Vegas against the Brooklyn Nets on July 10, followed by games against the Spurs on July 11, Pistons on July 13, and Warriors on July 16.

Welcome to New York, Keith!

You can follow Antonio on Twitter at @chapulana.