Will LeBron James leave the Lakers?

Since his arrival in Los Angeles as a free agent in 2018, James has traversed a landscape of triumphs and tribulations. Throughout this six-year odyssey, he has indelibly marked his place in Lakers history, steering the franchise to an NBA championship in 2020 and securing an In-Season Tournament title in 2023.

With the Lakers now out of the running for the 2024 NBA championship, attention swiftly shifts to James’ immediate future.

James’ Contract Situation and Potential Free Agency

Having inked a two-year contract extension in 2022, James retains a player option for the 2024-25 season. Should he opt out of this option, he will transition into unrestricted free agency ahead of his 22nd NBA campaign.

While a foray into free agency doesn’t definitively signal the end of James’ tenure with the Lakers, it does present an avenue for him to explore his options, potentially charting a new course with another team, a move that would mark the fourth transition of his storied NBA career.

Will James Depart from the Lakers? Insights from Past Statements

Following the Lakers’ exit from the 2024 NBA Playoffs, James fielded questions regarding his future with the team. His response was succinct yet enigmatic: “I’m not going to answer that.”

During the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, James provided a glimpse into his mindset regarding retirement and the latter stages of his illustrious career. While expressing contentment with his Lakers tenure, he remained candid about the uncertainty surrounding his future uniform.

“I am a Laker. I’ve been very happy being a Laker the last six years and hopefully it stays that way,” James asserted. “But I don’t have the answer to how long it is or which uniform I’ll be in. Hopefully, it is with the Lakers — it’s a great organization and so many greats — but we’ll see. I don’t know how it’s going to end but it’s coming.”

The Bronny Factor: A Father-Son NBA Dream

The prospect of playing alongside his eldest son, Bronny, looms large in James’ decision-making calculus. After Bronny declared for the NBA Draft following a season at USC, James articulated his aspiration to share the court with his son, even if it meant departing from Los Angeles.

“My last year will be played with my son,” James affirmed to The Athletic in 2022. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”

However, James has underscored his commitment to supporting Bronny’s autonomy in charting his own path, acknowledging that his son’s journey may diverge from his own aspirations.

“My son is going to take his journey,” James asserted to ESPN in 2023. “And whatever his journey, however his journey lays out, he’s going to do what’s best for him. …So, just because that’s my aspiration or my goal, doesn’t mean it’s his. And I’m absolutely OK with that.”

As James navigates this pivotal juncture in his career, the specter of a potential father-son NBA partnership adds an intriguing layer to his decision-making process.