LOS ANGELES — NBA superstar LeBron James will return for an unprecedented 24th season but not with the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that rocked the league on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) as free agency opened.
“Truly an honor to wear the [purple and gold] while trying to continue the greatness and legacies that came before me,” James, the league’s all-time leading scorer, said in a post on X, replying to a “thank you” post from Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss.
“Hope I made a few proud during my stint,” he added.
Buss’ farewell to James on social media had confirmed multiple media reports that the 41-year-old forward would depart the Lakers after eight years.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” Buss wrote in a statement posted on the Lakers’ X account.
“We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers — including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold.”
James joined the Lakers in 2018 and led them to their 17th — and most recent — title in 2020 in a post-season played in the Covid “bubble.”
James’ agent Rich Paul told ESPN that James had informed the Lakers of his decision “as a courtesy” so that they would be prepared for the start of free agency.
Teams and players could begin talking at 6 p.m. Eastern time (2200 GMT). While players can’t officially sign with teams until July 6, news of verbal agreements could emerge before then.
“King James” became a free agent after the Lakers’ second-round playoff exit but had not yet confirmed that he would indeed continue one of the most extraordinary careers in league history, with four championships and a multitude of individual records.
