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LeBron James free agency decision live updates: Where will he play? Rumors and latest news
LeBron James left the Lakers weeks ago but is still deciding where he will play next season. Follow along for live updates before, during and after his eventual decision.
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The Athletic NBA Staff
July 23, 2026 at 9:00 PM EDT
The NBA still waits on LeBron James
LeBron James has put the NBA at a standstill as he decides the team he wishes to join for his NBA-record 24th NBA season
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer made several public appearances last week at Fanatics Fest in New York City, but outside of saying “I won’t hold you guys up too much longer,” James did not convey his decision or provide a timetable for when he would make it
James is still being pursued by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers. He is an unrestricted free agent after announcing his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers in late June
Follow here for the latest on the situation from our reporters
Why Jalen Duren is still a free agent
While the NBA waits on LeBron James,other business is being held up as well. Most notably: Detroit Pistons All-NBA center Jalen Durenremains unsigned as an unrestricted free agent
Here’s the lastest on why Duren hasn’t signed anywhere yet
It’s easy to bet on LeBron’s future now
For as long asLeBron Jameshas been making decisions about where he’ll play professional basketball, there have been ways to wager on said decisions
Those opportunities have evolved dramatically in the 16 years since James was first a free agent. What was once limited to offshore sportsbooks is now a nine-figure market on Kalshi, where $200 million has already been traded — more than on who would win Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals
“This one’s been really popular,” said DraftKings director of sports operations Johnny Avello. “He likes to string it out and make it a show. Which is kind of good for us bookmaking
“It puts a lot of money into the pot and spreads out the action for us.”
GO FURTHER
Betting on LeBron James’ next team used to be a novelty – now it’s a nine-figure market
Anthony Davis to Warriors remains unlikely
When Draymond Greenelected to decline the player option on his contract, it was a surprise to those outside the Warriors’ offices, and even to some top team officials inside it. Green was widely expected to pick up the option
A teamiberations said Green’s opting out, done in collaboration with the Warriors’ front office, was indeed to give the team flexibility to sign LeBron James and trade for Anthony Davis.“But there were no guarantees,” the
In the weeks since, numerous leaguecurrent team, has no interest in trading Davis to the Warriors for Jimmy Butler, whose salary would be needed to satisfy league rules on trades
Debunking some reasons for James’ delay
Also, there have been suggestions made on TV this week that LeBron James made up his mind, changed it and is back to square one. lie.” Others have floated roster moves James might be holding out for, which agent Rich Paul has said is not true
What else has been floated this week? How about James allegedly delaying his decision just to spite NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who was also at Fanatics Fest last week, was also asked about James’ free agency and said, “I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule, because, as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the schedule”? Silver made those comments last Thursday, the same day James saidhe wouldn’t “hold” us up too much longer.
It is possible James has held off to spite Silver, but not plausible. The NBA schedule, which is typically released in August, is only a portion of the league’s business that is on pause right now. James is eventually going to pick a team, and that team has other moves it needs to make, and employees who need to unplug for a bit of R&R before the start of another season. Other teams are waiting on James and won’t get him, and Paul, as a super agent, will need to be able to work with those teams in the future.
Bronny James on his dad: ‘Man, I don’t know where he’s going’
Count Bronny James among those who doesn’t know (or won’t say) where his dad, LeBron James, is going
The younger James was asked by online streamer biggy22x whether he thought his father was heading to the Golden State Warriors
“Man, I don’t know where he’s going,”Bronny James said, laughing. “But that would be crazy if he did.”
The Lakers guaranteed Bronny James’ contract earlier this summer, and remain interested in keeping him even without his father, according to our Dan Woike
Will we finally see Steph and LeBron team up?
I am not sure if this Golden State Warriors roster plus LeBron James has real championship equity but it would certainly be fun to find out. James has long expressed his desire to play alongsideSteph Curryone day – this is his best and potentially his last opportunity to do that. After all, the idea of two aging superstars teaming up and propelling a team to championship heights would be unprecedented but if there was a duo who could make it happen, James and Curry would not be a bad bet
That said, there are clear durability concerns in this equation, especially with Jimmy Butlerrecovering from his knee injury and Kristaps Porzingis being a critical part of the roster construction. The basketball fit could be really fun but I am not sure it would accomplish much more than that
Wolves fit makes sense
Of all the teams LeBron James has been linked to, his fit with the Minnesota Timberwolves is the most intriguing to me
After sending Julius Randle to Brooklyn, the Wolves have a glaring need for a starting forward and James would be a rather seamless fit alongside LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert. His veteran experience and basketball acumen could be a major boost for the continued growth of Edwards but more importantly Ball, who is ridiculously talented but has not proven he has the maturity to consistently impact winning at a high level
Surrounding James with youth, athleticism and a pretty strudy defense at this stage of his career makes a lot of sense
The wait continues
The story suggests that LeBron James should end his career in Cleveland, a place that made him cry when the Lakers visited in January. I’m just going to keep an eye on James Harden, an unrestricted free agent. The Cavaliers acquired Harden with the intention of paying him, but they also paid Donovan Mitchell, and Harden has a recent history of being thoroughly uncomfortable if he has to play off the ball (see: Clippers continuing to start Russell Westbrook after acquiring Harden from Philadelphia in November 2023). James being a third option during the 2026 Lakers season was a sacrifice that I’m not sure he is eager to do again. If James were to choose Cleveland, I wonder what that would mean for Harden, and if it means that Harden would be left hanging entirely.
Draymond Green is also an unrestricted free agent with respect to James needing to make a decision on going to the Warriors or not. The happiness factor keeps coming up, and the Warriors are the closest in proximity to where James has been over the last eight years. He clearly wants to play with Stephen Curry. He won a gold medal with Steve Kerr as a head coach. They’re all old up there anyway when you include Al Horfordand the injured Jimmy Butler. There’s a role for James
Anyways, I’m just here so I don’t accidentally post a press conference link. I need to do Power Rankings and the NBA needs the schedule finalized (non-Aspiration version), and those things won’t happen until James picks a team. So I’m not playing the guessing game anymore besides this. You and I can discuss LeBron James again when the ink dries on whatever contract he signs
Can the Sixers really land LeBron?
I happen to be in Philadelphia, where I spoke at my high school’s basketball camp that I went to and was also a camper and coach at before I moved to Los Angeles. All of those kids wanted to know if LeBron James comes to play for the 76ers, and I just let them know that he’s going to play in the NBA next season. That’s all I had for them
But I can’t see LeBron James choosing to play for the 76ers. This is the same 76ers team that acquired Jaylen Brown, who drew James’ ire for saying that Bronny James didn’t look like a pro at summer league two years ago. Now, this is the same LeBron James who teamed up with Lance Stephenson years after Stephenson blew in James’ ear in the conference finals. But between Brown’s comments and JoelEmbiid’s chronic lack of availability (not to mention Embiid processing James’ decision to choose the Lakers in 2018), I’d be shocked if James wanted to come all the way East for the twilight of his career.
The Lakers are FOREVER gonna be Kobe’s and Magic’s team…. Process that
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 30, 2018
Another year of greatness
Already accumulating 43,440 points, 22 All-Star appearances, four NBA MVPs and four titles over 23 seasons, LeBron James has made the decision to run it back for at least another campaign. Last season, playing for the Lakers, James appeared in 60 games, averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists before Los Angeles was bounced by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs
That said, in the first round of the postseason, basketball fans got another glimpse of vintage LeBron as he willed the Lakers to a series win against the Houston Rockets, averaging 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists, headlined by his Game 3 heroics
He will continue to build on his Hall of Fame legacy this season but the question still remains – which jersey will he dawn in his 24th season?
Back to the 305?
In a vacuum, a trio of LeBron James,Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo sounds fierce but it’s not a perfect fit. In fact, it’s becoming clear that there is no perfect situation for James to join. Maybe that’s what’s drawing this process out
When it comes to Miami, there is no denying how talented that top three would be but questions about durability and spacing are legitimate, similar to Philadelphia. Injuries have continued to mount for Antetokounmpo in recent years and James is not as durable as he once was, putting a lot of pressure on Adebayo to stay healthy and to be fair, he’s done so, playing 70+ games in the last four seasons
Tim Hardaway Jr., Bobby Portis, Andrew Wigginsand Davion Mitchellmay be enough to quell spacing concerns but Adebayo is the one who is going to have to take and make more triples ultimately
What is LeBron waiting for?
It’s now been 24 days since LeBron Jamestold the world that he would not return to the Los Angeles Lakers
What began as a flurry of rumors about his next destination has now congealed into a protracted waiting game, one that has NBA teams, fans and even the league office looking at their proverbial watches. Expectation that James would announce his next team soon, boiling for weeks now, became red hot over the weekend
The World Cup ended Sunday. The NBA needs to make its 2026-27 schedule. James’ five NBA suitors — the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers — need to make moves to either sign him or strengthen their team if he spurns them
James himself said last Thursday, while in New York for Fanatics Fest, “I won’t hold you guys up too much longer.” James’ agent Rich Paul has said publicly that he told the five teams believed to be the front-runners for James that they didn’t need to provide any more information
But as of Thursday morning, there is still no announcement. “Nobody knows right now except LeBron,” said auss private deliberations, “and I’m not even sure LeBron knows.”
Read more on James and the wait for his decision here
GO FURTHER
LeBron James still hasn’t announced his next NBA team. What is he waiting for?
Would you believe in Cleveland?
Is LeBron James going back to Cleveland for a third stint enough to propel this iteration of the Cavaliers back to the NBA Finals?
After flipping Darius Garland forJames Hardenat the trade deadline, Cleveland reached the Eastern Conference Finals before getting swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks, including blowing a 22-point lead in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden
Is adding James to a core of Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen shift the power dynamic in the East? It certainly won’t hurt but legitimate doubts would still remain about the team’s ability to maximize its talent, especially in the postseason
A final hoorah at home would be fitting for James but at the same time, that storyline is a bit played out
How would James fit in Philly?
If LeBron James were to sign with the 76ers, Philadelphia would immediately have one of the most talented starting lineups in the NBA but that’s obvious
An opening unit of James, alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecomb, Jaylen Brown andJoel Embiidsounds tantalizing on paper. Is it a championship roster? Opinions vary
Who will be the No. 1 option? Will there be enough spacing? Will Embiid and James stay healthy? Can this unit share the ball and still maximize the talents of the indiviudal pieces?
If this move does become a reality, I am eager to watch these questions answered over the course of a season
Checking in with prediction markets
To the extent traders/bettors on prediction markets are seeing things as of 8 a.m. ET Thursday morning, no team has emerged as a consensus breakaway. And the dollars in play on this sit at roughly $205 million
That green spike on the right for the Heat? Roughly correlated to the timing of the viral attention to that introductory “press conference” video label inadvertently pre-
LeBron’s final game as a Laker
In what turned out to be LeBron James’ final game as a Laker, the star forward put forth a solid effort in a Game 4 loss as Los Angeles was swept by the Oklahoma CIty Thunder in the second round of the postseason
The 41-year-old scored 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting, adding 12 boards, three assists in 40 minutes. Overall in the 2026 postseason, James averaged 23.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from deep
Father time is starting to catch up with LeBron but these numbers, especially without Luka Doncic all together and Austin Reaves for a majority of the first round, underscore the impact James can still have on a contending team
How many days into this wait before can officially call this The Indecision?
Could LeBron play at 2028 Olympics?
While we wait for LeBron Jamesto choose his next NBA team, let’s discuss his international career playing for Team USA. The World Cup is fresh in mind, and both Lionel Messiand Cristiano Ronaldo provide interesting comparisons for James
Messi just singlehandedly carried Argentina to a runners-up finish in the tournament at the age of 39. When he and his team-mates won the 2022 World Cup when he was 35, no one expected him to be playing at such a high level four years later. Ronaldo, on the other hand, has been a cautionary tale about hanging on too long. His declining performances were an impediment to Portugal’s chances four years ago at the age of 37, and even more so this time around at 41
James has played in the Olympics four times: 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2024. He ranks first all-time in assists for Team USA at the Games, and second in points, rebounds, steals and games played. At Paris in 2024, he also became the first men’s basketball player to be a flag bearer for Team USA
All signs point to James playing the 2026-27 NBA season (as opposed to retiring). If that’s the case, it would only take one more season to reach the summer of 2028 and a home Olympics in Los Angeles. The allure of hanging on for one last gold medal would be strong. Would you bet against him playing at a high enough level to make the team?
Your thoughts on LeBron’s decision
Here’s a sampling of how some of our readers are feeling about LeBron’s free agency choices. You can get involved by heading over to our discussion page, or by emailing live@theathletic.com
💬 Keir B.:Maybe think outside the box. James to Pistons to play along Cade Cunningham
💬 Bob B.:What if the real news is that LeBron can’t decide between not great choices. Teams unlikely to go deep in the playoffs, teams that can’t pay him a fraction of what their top player makes, and teams where he won’t be the top dog seem like his options
💬 David D.:This old Cavs fan going back to the 1976 Miracle of Richfield thinks go-round #3 with the Cavs would be a win-win-win for Cavs-LBJ-League
💬 Tom M.:Surprised the Heat have the best odds. He seemed to leave that organization on less than great terms and that doesn’t seem to have changed in the meanwhile
