The NBA’s longest-tenured player has decided to run it back for his 24th season, but it will be on a new team.
Superstar forward LeBron James has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will not return and is looking to play elsewhere next season, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
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Tuesday’s news comes after a rather quiet early summer for James, who many had believed would retire instead of returning for another season.
He’s coming off a record-breaking 23rd NBA season, in which the 41-year-old still averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per night in 60 games.
The four-time MVP has spent the last eight seasons on the Lakers, leading them to an NBA championship in 2020.
Now, he’ll be one of the most sought-after free agents on the market, with teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors being the most prominent teams in the rumor mill.
As a four-time champion and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, James doesn’t have anything else left to prove. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be a major contributor wherever he decides to conclude his iconic career.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
