LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2024-25 NBA season ended prematurely than most expected, exiting the first round of the playoffs after losing in five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Because of this early flameout, reports and rumors are beginning to swirl about James’ future in L.A.
Is LeBron James Set To Leave the Lakers?
When James signed with the Lakers in July of 2018, the feeling around Hollywood was joyous. Seven years later, that feeling has been filled with a rollercoaster of emotions.
From winning the NBA championship in the bubble in 2020, to missing the playoffs entirely in 2022, making the Western Conference Finals in 2023, and then losing in the first round the last two years, James and the Lakers have seen it all.
In a recent piece from Jovan Buha and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the discussion about James mulling his future has already begun.
“So, might James think about finishing his career elsewhere in pursuit of a fifth ring? When posed that question, both league sources close to James and team sources would not rule that possibility out. And that was before the revealing elimination game.”
In his postgame interview after Game 5’s loss, James stated his desire to compete for a championship, since he made his first NBA Finals debut at the age of 22.
“For me, since my first NBA Finals appearance in 2007, the moment I got an opportunity to be a part of that and taste that feeling, every season that I did not make it to the Finals or win a championship has been a disappointment,” he said. “So it will be the same offseason of disappointment and unfulfillment.”
People close to LeBron James aren’t ruling out the possibility of him finishing his career elsewhere, per @TheAthletic
“So, might James think about finishing his career elsewhere in pursuit of a fifth ring? When posed that question, both league sources close to James and team… pic.twitter.com/IdMLfabNRj
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
Lakers Made Moves To Appease James
If James does choose to move on, it won’t be because the Lakers haven’t done what they could to please the four-time champion.
The Lakers hired JJ Redick, the cohost of James’ “Mind the Game” podcast and a person James vouched for when it came to the head coach position. The team also drafted his son, Bronny James, with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The star forward has long desired to play long enough to play with his eldest son in the NBA. And the Lakers made that wish come true for the James family.
The Lakers have also been active in acquiring superstar talents that fit James’ timeline. The Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook, albeit that turned out to be a basketball nightmare on the court due to the fit. They acquired Anthony Davis and made the blockbuster decision to move him for Luka Dončić years later.
Although Los Angeles has revamped the roster a few times over the years, as shown in their first-round loss to the Timberwolves, they are still a few pieces away from contending for a championship.
The Lakers have made some exceptional moves this past season, but the hunger for a fifth Larry O’Brien trophy may fuel James’ decision to move once more.
