LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 23, 2026.

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles against the Detroit Pistons on March 23, 2026. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Source Close To LeBron James: ‘I’m Not Even Sure LeBron Knows’ Where He’s Going

Ashish MathurJuly 23, 2026 2:26 PMJuly 23, 2026 2:28 PM

Joe Vardon of The Athletic spoke to a source close to LeBron James who said the NBA legend may not even know where he’s going.

James is an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2018. He’s apparently having a tough time picking his next team.

“Nobody knows right now except LeBron,” said a source close to James who spoke on a condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations, “and I’m not even sure LeBron knows.”

James is expected to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers or Minnesota Timberwolves. He left the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons.

James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game for the Lakers last season. He then averaged 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game over 10 games in the 2026 playoffs against the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Los Angeles beat Houston in the first round in six games but lost to OKC in the second round in four games.

The Cavaliers lost in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Warriors and Heat missed the playoffs and the 76ers and Timberwolves lost in the second round.

James has been recruited by the star players on each of the teams interested in signing him.

The sole player in NBA history to rank top five all-time in points and assists, James holds career averages of 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game in the regular season and 28.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game in the playoffs with the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers. He won the 2012 and 2013 championships with the Heat, the 2016 championship with his hometown Cavaliers and the 2020 championship with the Lakers at the Walt Disney World Bubble.

James has been in the NBA since 2003. He’s a four-time MVP, four-time champion and four-time Finals MVP. The Akron native is the all-time leader in points, field goals, minutes and games. Many people consider James, who has made 21 All-NBA teams and 22 All-Star teams, to be the greatest basketball player of all time.

“I want to compete at a high level,” James said at Fanatics Fest on Friday (July 17). “I want to join a franchise that shares the same model as myself. That’s like practicing championship habits every day. But trust in the process more than anything. I think you trust the process of actually getting to that point.

“The process is what’s most important. Because if you just fully immerse yourself in that, then the outcome will take care of itself. If you’re already worried about the championship, or you’re already worried about the playoffs, already worried about what lies ahead, then you will skip steps along that journey. So, being with a franchise, being with a group of guys that kind of has the same model.”

A future Hall of Famer, James turns 42 in December. It will be fascinating to see where the NBA icon is playing next season.