LeBron James to leave Lakers, play elsewhere in 24th NBA season, team confirms

LeBron James, wide considered to beryllium 1 of the top players successful NBA history, volition permission the Los Angeles Lakers up of the 2026-2027 season, the Lakers confirmed.

The 41-year-old spent 8 seasons connected the squad and led the franchise to its 17th NBA title during the pandemic-altered 2019-2020 season. In a statement, Lakers politician Jeanie Buss thanked James for his tenure.

"LeBron James is 1 of the top athletes successful history. We volition ever beryllium thankful for his 8 years with the Lakers – including the rubric helium led america to successful 2020 nether the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records helium broke successful purple and gold. We privation him each the champion successful the future, some connected the tribunal and off. He volition ever beryllium a cherished portion of the Lakers family."  

It's not yet wide wherever James intends to play adjacent season. The NBA's escaped bureau dialog model opens astatine 6 p.m. ET connected Tuesday.

James became the NBA's all-time person successful points scored, games played and seasons played portion wearing the purple and gold.

He has not yet issued nationalist comment.