{"id":203095,"date":"2026-06-30T12:50:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T16:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=203095"},"modified":"2026-06-30T12:55:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T16:55:48","slug":"lebron-james-leaves-la","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/30\/lebron-james-leaves-la\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Time to Move On\u2019: LeBron James to Depart Lakers in Free Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After eight seasons, a slew of records and an unforgettable 2020 championship, <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LeBron James<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2019 tenure in the purple and gold has come to an end. The NBA\u2019s all-time leading scorer will play his 24th season elsewhere, according to <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ShamsCharania\/status\/2071988062259736871\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>\u2018Time to Move On\u2019: LeBron James to Depart Lakers in Free Agency<\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A source close to James told ESPN, \u201cit was time to move on.\u201d <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IR04QhEPZ5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/IR04QhEPZ5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dave McMenamin (@mcten) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mcten\/status\/2071989334329512052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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 <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/nba\/news\/warriors-plan-lebron-james-anthony-davis-draymond-green-contract\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bold move to the Bay<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, teaming up with <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/curryst01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stephen Curry<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/greendr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Draymond Green<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the Golden State Warriors.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">After eight seasons with the Lakers &#8212; his longest singular run with any team &#8212; LeBron James is definitely playing elsewhere in 2026-27, according to his agent Rich Paul.<\/p>\n<p>It&#39;ll be LeBron&#39;s 24th NBA season and team No. 4 after stints with the Cavaliers (twice), Heat and Lakers. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sjnXlkhKuY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/sjnXlkhKuY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheSteinLine\/status\/2071992726703263974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"max-width: 800px\"><smartframe-embed class=\"smartframe_wp_element\" customer-id=\"b0c95bc04383cef69c6b47df872135cf\" image-id=\"WmOBXi4TeJhq\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 2764px; aspect-ratio: 2764\/1843;\" ><\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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 <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Luka Doncic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/reaveau01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Austin Reaves<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a statement posted to the team\u2019s social media accounts, Lakers governor Jeanie Buss <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Lakers\/status\/2071999961500373081\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">said<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in NBA history. We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers &#8211; 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, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/08\/02\/lakers-news-luka-doncic-extension\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doncic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the face of the franchise with a three-year extension last August, they secured <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/06\/24\/here-to-stay-austin-reaves-to-re-sign-with-lakers-on-4-year-max-deal\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reaves<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">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. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VeN3vJM5JV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/VeN3vJM5JV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DStarkand\/status\/2071992598148043150?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Lakers Meeting With Reported \u201cA-List Center\u201d Targets Tuesday<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among those talents the Lakers are reportedly eyeing are <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/durenja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jalen Duren<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kesslwa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Walker Kessler<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. With James now confirmed to be heading for greener pastures, their pursuits of those top-tier bigs may have gotten a little easier. <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/sam_amick\/status\/2071736239125135683\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reports<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> indicate that Duren has a phone call with the Lakers Tuesday to discuss sign-and-trade scenarios. And while not explicitly stated, LA is <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/LALMuse\/status\/2071945182975517170\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cstrongly believed\u201d<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be among the teams that Kessler is meeting with at the start of free agency, according to insider Jake Fischer.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">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.<\/p>\n<p>I&#39;d be surprised if they didn&#39;t land one of them in the coming days.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BrettSiegelNBA\/status\/2071990226050838826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a9 Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After eight seasons, a slew of records and an unforgettable 2020 championship, LeBron James\u2019 tenure in the purple and gold has come to an end. The NBA\u2019s all-time leading scorer will play his 24th season elsewhere, according to ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania. \u2018Time to Move On\u2019: LeBron James to Depart Lakers in Free Agency A source [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4265,"featured_media":203099,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,2,26,62,3],"tags":[4556,409,4432,38,1133,297,48,4513],"class_list":["post-203095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-featured","category-lakers","category-nba","category-news","tag-austin-reaves","tag-draymond-green","tag-jalen-duren","tag-lebron-james","tag-luka-doncic","tag-nba-free-agency","tag-stephen-curry","tag-walker-kessler"],"modified_by":"Jordan Pagkalinawan, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203095"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":203112,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203095\/revisions\/203112"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}