LeBron James leaves Lakers, sets up move for 24th NBA season

LeBron James told the Los Angeles Lakers he would play elsewhere in the 2026-27 season, ending an eight-year run in Los Angeles and making 2026-27 his 24th NBA season. At 41 and turning 42 in December, James entered unrestricted free agency for the fourth time in his career and for the first time since 2018.

The move closes the longest continuous stretch he has spent with any franchise. James joined the Lakers on July 1, 2018, on a four-year, $154 million contract after Los Angeles had missed the playoffs in five straight seasons and won only 17 games in 2015-16. He delivered one title, the 2020 championship in the Orlando bubble.

The Lakers thanked James for the eight seasons and the championship he led under the COVID bubble format. Jeanie Buss said he will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family. James wrote on X that it was an honor to wear the Lakers uniform and said he hoped he made a few proud during his stint.

James also left with top-10 marks in several Lakers categories. He finished with 12,402 points, which ranked 10th in franchise history, along with 3,808 assists, fifth most, 4,681 field goals, 10th, and 1,020 three-pointers, second only to the franchise standard. He also remained the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and had already set another milestone by becoming the first player to appear in 23 seasons.

In 2025-26, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 60 games after missing the first month with sciatica. He helped the Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in the first round before they were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round.

Free agency negotiations begin Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. The Golden State Warriors are among the teams in the mix. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are also in the mix. Luka Dončić, James’s former teammate, posted a tribute on Instagram. James has not decided whether 2026-27 will be his last season.