LeBron James will continue his NBA career into a 24th season but he won’t be playing with the Los Angeles Lakers.
On Tuesday night ESPN’s Shams Charania reported James had told the Lakers the franchise can “move on without him because he will play elsewhere”, his agent Rich Paul said.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
The bombshell announcement has sent the basketball world into a frenzy and the rumour mill has gone into overdrive with speculation over which team the 41-year-old will join.
James spent eight years at the Lakers and won his fourth NBA championship and first with LA in 2020. He also broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time NBA scoring record in 2023 wearing the yellow and purple.
Well and truly in the twilight of his career, James heads into free agency in search of a new team.
The 22-time All-Star reportedly told Lakers president Rob Pelinka of his intention to leave the team ahead of the start of free agency to allow LA to conduct its off-season business.
The Lakers reportedly wanted to keep James but he has decided to move on elsewhere.
Speculation is mounting that James will stay in California to join the Golden State Warriors in a superteam of veterans alongside Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.
NBA insider Jake Fischer said the Warriors “will certainly be pitching LeBron James to join Curry” in San Francisco.
Green has declined his $27.7 million player option for next season, giving the Warriors greater flexibility to negotiate a team friendly deal and attract star recruits for next season.
If he joins Golden State, it will be the fourth NBA team James has played on after two stints in Cleveland, four years in Miami and eight seasons in LA.
ESPN reported a source close to James said “it was time to move on”.
He waited until his son Bronny James’ $2.3 million contract became fully guaranteed before telling the Lakers he was leaving.
James’ departure leaves a gaping hole on the Lakers roster with guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves now the two mainstays of the team.
Earlier this week Reaves agreed to a monster four-year $185 million (A$267m) max deal.
Aussie big man gets $20m payday
In other NBA trade news, Australia’s Jock Landale has signed a one-year deal to return to the Atlanta Hawks for another season, ESPN reported.
Landale will sign a one-year deal worth $14 million (A$20.2 million) — he impressed after being traded to Atlanta mid-season, averaging 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds.