Basketball superstar James to leave LA Lakers
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- LeBron James is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons, and the team issued a statement calling him "one of the greatest athletes in history" and thanking him for the 2020 NBA title
- James helped the Lakers win the 2020 NBA championship and has played alongside his son Bronny James, 21, since 2024 — a historic father-son pairing
- Media reports identify the Golden State Warriors as a target for the league's all-time leading scorer
- James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds this season and is a 22-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion
- James holds the NBA's all-time records for points (43,440) and games played (1,622)
- James was drafted first overall in 2003 by Cleveland, won his first title with Miami, and delivered Cleveland its 2016 championship after rallying from a 3-1 Finals deficit against Golden State
Why it matters: James's exit ends an eight-year Lakers tenure built around a 2020 title and the unprecedented father-son act with Bronny, leaving Los Angeles with a star-power and marketing void. At 41, the NBA's all-time leading scorer (43,440 points) hits the open market with Golden State reportedly positioned as a suitor, reshaping the league's competitive map.
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