LeBron James turned down a historic NBA trade because he didn’t want to play under the orders of an owner
basketball
Express newspaper
08/08/2025 11:59
James, now 40, is still with the Los Angeles Lakers, having been transferred there in 2018.
But “The King,” the greatest scorer in NBA history, could have played for the Los Angeles Clippers if things had gone differently.
In 2010, James joined the Miami Heat as a free agent after seven seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The move was confirmed on an infamous TV programme titled “The Decision” and, 30 minutes into the show, James revealed:
“This fall I will take my skills to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.
“I think that’s going to give me the best chance to win, to win for many years, not just in the regular season or five games in a row, but I want to win championships. And I feel like I can compete there.”
He joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but according to billionaire businessman David Geffen, James had considered moving to the Clippers instead of the Heat.
Geffen, who along with Oprah Winfrey had made a bid to buy the Clippers, told ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap that the reasons James didn’t make the move “are perfectly clear” – implying the history of racism by owner Donald Sterling as a major factor.
Why did the Clippers owner get a lifetime ban?
Four years later, while James was still with the Heat, Sterling was heard making racist comments in audio recordings that were released.
James, who is passionate about social issues in addition to being an NBA legend, called for Sterling’s removal from the league:
“We’re fighting to remove an owner from our league who shouldn’t be a part of it,” James said, according to ESPN.
“It doesn’t matter how long it takes, how much money it costs, we have to get rid of him – and anyone associated with him has no place in our league.”
Sterling, then 91, received a lifetime ban from the NBA, as announced by commissioner Adam Silver. He also recommended that the NBA Board of Governors force Sterling to sell the Clippers, which happened in August 2014.
The Clippers were purchased for $2 billion by Steve Ballmer, who is still at the helm of the club.
James returned to the Cavs after four seasons and stayed for another four before moving on to the Lakers, where he won his most recent championship in 2020.
He has decided to continue the final year of his contract with the Lakers and will become the first player in NBA history to play in 23 seasons. /GazetaExpress/