If LeBron James doesn't retire from the NBA this summer, there are three teams he could play for.
According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, LeBron James will play for the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers or Golden State Warriors next season if he doesn't retire from the NBA this summer.
LeBron, 41, is an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2018 when he left the Cavaliers for the Lakers.
In two stints (2003-10, 2014-18) with the Cavaliers, LeBron averaged 27.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He won two MVPs and one Finals MVP and made 10 All-Star teams with his hometown club.
The Cavaliers beat the 73-9 Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. LeBron and Co. are the only team in NBA history to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals.
LeBron averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per game in the 2016 NBA Finals. He was named Finals MVP.
While golfing with Bob Does Sports, LeBron spoke about how special the 2016 NBA championship with his hometown Cavaliers was, saying it was a weight off his shoulders.
"Winning the first one was more weight off my shoulders, but winning in Cleveland was a goal that I wanted to do," LeBron said. "I needed to close that chapter and that's why I went back. I wanted to close that chapter. I always wanted to win one back home and obviously the organization never won one, and 50-plus years for the city alone, not winning a championship, not just basketball, but the city alone.
"So, me going back there, that was my main mission was like, I want to win one for this city and for this state as well. So the first one weight off my shoulder, it solidified me being what I thought I always was, but the one in Cleveland was probably the most special one."
Arguably the greatest player in NBA history, LeBron is a four-time MVP, four-time champion and four-time Finals MVP. He is the NBA's all-time leader in points, field goals, games, minutes and wins.
The Cavaliers got swept by the New York Knicks in the 2026 conference finals. They clearly need LeBron to reach the promised land again.
However, LeBron won't take a pay cut to return to the Cavaliers, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN. As of today, the Cavaliers can sign LeBron for only $3 million and James is worth way more than that.
For the Lakers this season, LeBron averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. He's still an elite offensive player, so if the Cavaliers want to reunite with The King, they need to create more cap space.
It will be fascinating to see what LeBron does this summer. It would certainly be cool to see King James end his career in Cleveland. A starting lineup of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, LeBron, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen would be deadly.
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