LeBron James could certainly opt to retire this summer after a future Hall of Fame career. However, if he chooses to return to the hardwood, he could leave the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent and sign with the Golden State Warriors.
LeBron James Joining the Warriors is Not Out of the Question
James will enter his 24th campaign if he plays next season. At 41 years old, he may not be the MVP-caliber player he once was, but the all-time great still proved he can produce at an All-Star level in 2025-26. As a result, playoff contenders might consider signing James this summer to see if he can lift their franchise to a championship next season.
The Warriors’ season took a turn for the worse when Jimmy Butler tore his right ACL. He faces a long road to recovery, but Golden State’s championship window is fading rapidly as Stephen Curry enters next season at 38 years old. Dan Woike and Nick Friedell of The Athletic think James could explore playing with Curry on the Warriors to go for one more championship run.
“[James is] a generation older than most of today’s NBA players. Being around people his age whom he’s known, competed against and respected for more than a decade would have real appeal. And let’s not forget LeBron and Steph’s stirring gold-medal-winning experience in Paris. All of that is why he could consider it,” Woike and Friedell wrote.
Heading into the offseason, Golden State is the sixth-oldest team in the association, with an average age of 27.8. James would certainly make that number rise, but the Warriors have an incentive to make the most out of the Curry era as they can. Signing James to a one-year deal and bringing back Kristaps Porziņģis accomplishes just that.
Butler could even return over the 2026-27 campaign’s final few months. Even though a miraculous return ahead of schedule seems unlikely for the 36-year-old star, Curry, Butler, James, Porziņģis, and Draymond Green form a star-powered, battle-tested starting five.
James would add more playmaking, ball handling, and slashing to the Warriors. They took the most 3-pointers in the league last season at 44.1 per game. James constantly puts pressure on the rim in the halfcourt and transition, forcing defenses to collapse.
This would give knockdown shooters like Curry and Porziņģis even more open looks from beyond the arc.
Golden State re-signed championship head coach Steve Kerr on a two-year deal this offseason. James played for Kerr and with Curry on the US men’s basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. They took home the gold medal in storybook fashion, with Curry delivering an unforgettable performance against France in the finals.
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If both future Hall of Famers teamed up to win an NBA championship, it would be an amazing end to James’ career.
