DHJ Quick Take
- Unrestricted Free Agency: For the first time since 2018, LeBron James is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, assuming he chooses not to retire.
- Primary Suitors: If he continues his career, the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to be the top teams vying for James’ services.
- Teammate Chemistry: Lakers superstar Luka Dončić has enjoyed his tenure playing alongside James, suggesting a strong foundation remains in Los Angeles despite the contract uncertainty.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018. If the NBA legend doesn’t retire, he will draw interest from his current team, the Lakers, along with the Golden State Warriors and his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Dan Woike and Sam Amick of The Athletic, who also report that Lakers superstar Luka Dončić “has enjoyed his time with James as a teammate.”
James is 41 years old. He’s the oldest active player in the NBA and has been in the association since 2003. The Akron native is a four-time MVP, four-time champion and four-time Finals MVP. He’s played for the Cavaliers (twice), Miami Heat and Lakers and is the all-time leader in points, field goals, games and minutes.
Woike and Amick report that James doesn’t want a farewell tour and that the future Hall of Famer could retire after this season. The Lakers are the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, but they are widely expected to lose to the Houston Rockets in the first round since Dončić and Austin Reaves are out with injuries.
James appeared in 60 games for the Lakers this season. He averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 51.5% from the field, 31.7% from beyond the arc and 73.7% from the free-throw line. The 22-time All-Star recorded 17 double-doubles and three triple-doubles, proving once again that he has defeated Father Time.
A top 75 player of all time, James is close with Dončić, Reaves and Lakers head coach JJ Redick. He’s also friends with Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green and Cavaliers guards James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. Sources told Dallas Hoops Journal that Curry and Green will recruit James to Golden State and Harden and Mitchell will recruit The King to Cleveland this summer.
Most people who cover the NBA believe that if James doesn’t retire this offseason, he will either re-sign with the Lakers or return to the Cavaliers for a third stint.
Argubaly the greatest player in NBA history, James has career averages of 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. It will be fascinating to see what the sports icon decides to do this summer.
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