NBA icon LeBron James has officially ended his eight-year spell with the Los Angeles Lakers after deciding to leave the franchise and continue his legendary career with a new team.
The 41-year-old, widely regarded as one of basketball’s greatest players, helped the Lakers win the 2020 NBA Championship and departs as one of the most influential figures in the club’s recent history.
Reports indicate that the Golden State Warriors are among the leading contenders to sign the four-time NBA champion.
The Lakers confirmed James’ departure on Tuesday, paying tribute to his remarkable achievements during his time in Los Angeles.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” the franchise said in a statement. “We will always be grateful for his eight years with the Lakers, including the title he led us to in 2020 under the most difficult circumstances imaginable. He will always be a cherished member of the Lakers family.”
James leaves after another productive campaign despite battling injuries. He averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game while continuing to perform at an elite level in his 23rd NBA season.
He also shared the court with his son, Bronny James, after the younger guard joined the Lakers in 2024, creating one of the league’s most memorable father-son partnerships.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer has enjoyed one of the most decorated careers in basketball history.
Selected first overall by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft, James won two championships with the Miami Heat before returning to Cleveland to lead the Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA title in 2016, overcoming a historic 3-1 Finals deficit against the Golden State Warriors.
He later joined the Lakers in 2018 and guided the franchise to the 2020 championship, delivering a title during a season overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic and months after the tragic death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.
With 43,440 career points, 22 All-Star selections and four NBA championships, James now begins the next chapter of his historic career as he searches for another opportunity to compete for an NBA title.
