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LeBron James not returning to Lakers; speculation on future teams

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 6, 2026, 6:01 AM

Last updated Jul 6, 2026

LeBron James not returning to Lakers; speculation on future teams

Summary

LeBron James has officially informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will not return for a ninth season. Despite various teams being connected as possible destinations for the future Hall of Famer, Chad Johnson suggests this might be a publicity stunt and believes James already knows his next team. James’ agent, Rich Paul, indicated that around 10 to 12 teams are interested in James’ services as he focuses on personal happiness rather than salary maximization. Veteran analyst Ric Bucher questioned the sincerity of the outreach to teams, stating that if there was genuine interest, teams would act directly. Potential suitors include the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Philadelphia 76ers, among others.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•LeBron James not returning to Los Angeles Lakers for another season.
•Chad Johnson believes James has already chosen his next team.
•Rich Paul claims 10 to 12 teams have shown interest in James.
•Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are among top suitors.
•Analyst Ric Bucher questions the narrative about team interest.

Latest Updates

6:01 AMYahoo Sports — ’Always Been 2 Steps Ahead of Everybody Else’ — NFL Legend Claims LeBron James ’Already Knows’ His Next Team

What they're saying

"
LeBron James shocked the NBA after officially notifying the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not return for a ninth season. Though several teams have been linked as the potential landing spots for the future Hall of Famer, NFL legend Chad Johnson believes the entire situation is merely a publicity stunt.
— Yahoo Sports

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