LeBron James’ free agency has sparked plenty of buzz over the last few weeks, and now an unexpected team from the Western Conference has entered the mix.
ESPN insider Dave McMenamin revealed that the San Antonio Spurs had some level of contact with James after the four-time NBA MVP entered free agency. He stopped short of calling it a recruiting effort, but confirmed there was communication between the two sides.
Dave McMenamin Reveals Spurs had Conversation with LeBron James
The update comes as James continues to weigh his options after parting ways with the Los Angeles Lakers late last month. The 22-time All-Star has now spent nearly three weeks in free agency, making it one of the longest decision-making periods of his career.
Speaking on The Hoop Collective podcast, McMenamin shared what he had heard.
“My understanding there was some sort of Spurs dialogue. I don’t know whether it was pitching but it was some sort of dialogue.”
Dave McMenamin on LeBron’s free agency decision:
“My understanding there was some sort of Spurs dialogue. I don’t know whether it was pitching but it was some sort of dialogue.”
👀👀👀#GoSpursGo #PorVida pic.twitter.com/LH9E8CbpZ6
— Wemby Alien Era (@WembyAlienEra) July 17, 2026
While McMenamin’s report confirms the Spurs and James were in touch, it’s still unclear how serious those talks were or whether San Antonio plans to make a strong push for the NBA legend.
The Spurs, meanwhile, remain focused on the group they already have.
When reporter Maxime Aubin asked Spurs CEO RC Buford whether the team was pursuing James, he didn’t directly respond to the speculation. Instead, he pointed to the team’s confidence in its current roster.
“What I will say is that we’re excited about the team we’ve been able to keep together, and to add Tobias [Harris] to that, plus our young draft picks. I think our history shows how we build teams.”
Are the Spurs pursuing LeBron James? I asked RC Buford about it. Here’s his answer:
“What I will say is that we’re excited about the team we’ve been able to keep together — and to add Tobias [Harris] to that, plus our young draft picks. I think our history shows how we build…
— Maxime Aubin (@MaximeAubin1) July 17, 2026
That approach has worked well for San Antonio so far. Led by French superstar Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs made an impressive run to the NBA Finals this past season. Their young roster proved it could compete with the league’s best, but a lack of experience ultimately kept them from winning the championship.
That’s also why the idea of James joining the Spurs has some weight. Even at this stage of his career, the four-time champion would bring championship experience and one of the sharpest basketball minds in the game. His veteran presence could help speed up the development of Wembanyama and San Antonio’s young core while boosting the team’s title hopes.
At the same time, several of the league’s biggest stars have publicly welcomed the idea of teaming up with James.
Miami Heat superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo recently called James one of the greatest players ever and admitted he’d love the chance to learn from him while chasing a championship.
Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell also made his recruiting pitch while attending the Queens Classic matchup between NJ/NY Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit at Citi Field.
“I mean, it’s home. We’ve done it once, let’s do it again, simple as that,” Mitchell said.
For now, James is still considering every option in front of him. While teams across the league wait for his decision, McMenamin’s latest comments suggest the Spurs at least opened the door.
