LeBron James, often called the greatest basketball player of all time, is still making headlines as he nears the end of his Hall of Fame career. With four NBA championships, four MVP awards, 20 All-Star appearances, and the league’s all-time scoring record, James has set a high standard for greatness on and off the court.
Now 41, the superstar is expected to make one last run before retirement. As fans and others wonder where he’ll go next, here are five possible landing spots for James.
5 Possible Landing Spots for LeBron James
Los Angeles Lakers
🚨BRONNY JAMES TAKES THE COURT WITH LEBRON pic.twitter.com/xWspubDhwS
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 23, 2024
James is still the main piece for the Lakers, where his son, Bronny James, is signed for the next three years. The team recently added Luka Dončić, giving them even more star power. The Lakers are also looking to sign a true center to help their lineup. Staying in Los Angeles lets James keep building chemistry with a strong team, guide his son, and go after another championship. Since he already won a title there in 2020, this is likely the top choice for where he’ll finish his career.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Reminder: LeBron led CLEVELAND to a championship, beating a 73 win team.
Yea, he the 🐐 💯 pic.twitter.com/oY6xA8l8z9
— Bron’s Best (@LBJsBest) May 12, 2025
Returning to Cleveland would be a homecoming for James, who grew up in nearby Akron, Ohio. He led the Cavaliers to their first NBA title in 2016. His deep ties to the area and the team make this a strong option. The current Cavs have young talent and playoff hopes. James’ experience could help them take the next step. A third run with Cleveland could add to his legacy and give fans one more shot at seeing their hometown hero bring home a title.
Golden State Warriors
LeBron speaks on him & Draymond’s relationship on and off the court and how it’ll be going into this series pic.twitter.com/vTKekbDNmM
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) May 2, 2023
James has said he respects Stephen Curry and is good friends with Draymond Green, who’s still on the Warriors. James and Curry played together on Team USA and won gold at the 2024 Olympics, showing they can work well as teammates. If James joins the Warriors, he would team up with Curry’s amazing shooting and Green’s strong defense. It would be a powerful group. Money and roster changes would be tricky, but the chance to win a title with Curry—and play alongside a close friend like Green—might be too tempting for James to ignore.
New York Knicks
Those two will now be playing in the same All-Star Game together in just 2 weeks. pic.twitter.com/DKbFHjYDnx
— BrunsonMuse (@BrunsonMuse) February 3, 2024
The Knicks are one of the top teams in the East and will play the Pacers in the 2025 playoffs. New York is a huge market, which fits well with James’ global image. The team has strong, experienced players, so James wouldn’t have to lead a group of rookies. He could focus on helping the team win. Playing at Madison Square Garden might be a dream moment for James, but the Knicks still need to make a few more moves to be true title favorites.
San Antonio Spurs
Wemby and LeBron show love on Instagram!
👑 x 👽 pic.twitter.com/JkBYG2EJdJ
— WembyMuse (@Wemby_Muse) February 24, 2024
The Spurs have a young team with two recent Rookies of the Year and just added De’Aaron Fox. James could bring the leadership this group needs. Mitch Johnson is now the head coach, while longtime coach Gregg Popovich is the team president. James could help develop rising star Victor Wembanyama and guide the Spurs as they grow into playoff contenders. But since the team is still young and not ready to win right away, San Antonio is less likely compared to other teams already built to compete.
