LeBron James is the talk of the NBA world as he decides where he will play in 2026. Per his agent Rich Paul, James could truly end up anywhere other than with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Paul dropped an episode of his “Game Over” podcast on Friday in which he went into detail on how his friend and client fit with teams across the NBA.
Rich Paul Breaks Down the NBA-Wide Pursuit of LeBron James
He shared a whiteboard featuring 10 teams, but made it clear the number was much larger.
“Paul told ESPN on Friday that he has now spoken to 27 teams about James and that the factors the veteran has to think about are fluid — such as the Philadelphia 76ers trading for Jaylen Brown, for instance,” wrote ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Rich Paul made a whiteboard laying out LeBron’s “realistic” destinations
(via Game Over Pod, @TheHeatCentral) pic.twitter.com/QrpQ4QM2e6
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 3, 2026
“‘Every day things change,’ Paul told ESPN. ‘This is the first time that LeBron James is making a decision pressure-free. He’s won already. He’s made good on his promise — he won in L.A. This is strictly for his happiness. What does happiness entail? It’s a number of things. It’s a bucket of happiness. It’s basketball, it’s living, it’s camaraderie, it’s competition. It’s everything.'”
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“The Klutch Sports CEO included 10 teams on the board during the podcast: Philadelphia, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and San Antonio Spurs.”
The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers appeared to be the favorites entering free agency.
However, Paul noted he has spoken to almost every single team about a potential James addition.
One key point from Paul is how the NBA landscape is constantly shifting. Jaylen Brown was shockingly traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, making that a potential top destination for James if he wants to chase a ring next season.
Paul’s mention of 27 teams means fans of teams like the Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers, and even the Sacramento Kings may be holding out hope for a surprise LeBron signing.
An eyebrow-raising comment was made by Paul when he said the 41-year-old would be headed to the New York Knicks if they didn’t win the title. Yet he did not rule out the superstar still heading to the Big Apple.
It is rare to see a sports agent be so open and transparent about a player’s free agency plans. Yet one thing the fans know is that James and his circle seemingly love the attention and are soaking it up, likely for the final time.
