After eight seasons, a slew of records and an unforgettable 2020 championship, LeBron James’ tenure in the purple and gold has come to an end. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer will play his 24th season elsewhere, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
‘Time to Move On’: LeBron James to Depart Lakers in Free Agency
A source close to James told ESPN, “it was time to move on.” https://t.co/IR04QhEPZ5
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 30, 2026
Though James has not made a formal decision on his next team, rumors have constantly linked him to either a return to one of his previous stops or a bold move to the Bay, teaming up with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors.
After eight seasons with the Lakers — his longest singular run with any team — LeBron James is definitely playing elsewhere in 2026-27, according to his agent Rich Paul.
It'll be LeBron's 24th NBA season and team No. 4 after stints with the Cavaliers (twice), Heat and Lakers. https://t.co/sjnXlkhKuY
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 30, 2026
In 60 games at 41 years old, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game on 51.5% shooting from the field. Despite eventually settling into a third-option role behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, late-season injuries to those two forced him to take the wheel yet again, as he led the Lakers to a first-round victory over the Houston Rockets before being swept by the OKC Thunder.
While LeBron searches for the team that will house the twilight of his career, the Lakers will officially build around with their star-studded backcourt. After making Doncic the face of the franchise with a three-year extension last August, they secured Reaves as his elite running mate with a four-year max deal last week. Now, the team will actively look to surround them with talent on the wing and in the middle.
It was definitely time to move on for both sides. Lakers are in the Luka business now and their focus should 100% be on building around him long term. Interested to see how they do that now. https://t.co/VeN3vJM5JV
— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) June 30, 2026
Lakers Meeting With Reported “A-List Center” Targets Tuesday
Among those talents the Lakers are reportedly eyeing are Jalen Duren or Walker Kessler. With James now confirmed to be heading for greener pastures, their pursuits of those top-tier bigs may have gotten a little easier. Reports indicate that Duren has a phone call with the Lakers Tuesday to discuss sign-and-trade scenarios. And while not explicitly stated, LA is “strongly believed” to be among the teams that Kessler is meeting with at the start of free agency, according to insider Jake Fischer.
With LeBron James officially leaving the Lakers, expect LA to make a big move to find their center of the future in either Jalen Duren or Walker Kessler.
I'd be surprised if they didn't land one of them in the coming days.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) June 30, 2026
The Lakers told Doncic that this summer would be one to watch. With their former franchise cornerstone finally moving on, now is their chance to prove it.
© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
