LeBron James will change franchises in the NBA again. The player informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will not continue with the team after eight seasons and will play his 24th season in the league with another organization, a decision that puts an end to the longest cycle he has had with the same jersey and opens one of the most relevant movements in the market towards the 2026-2027 campaign.

The departure comes 16 years after the decision that took him from Cleveland to Miami and occurs at a different stage in his career: a few months after turning 42 and with the declared intention of continuing to compete for championships.

James himself had already anticipated what his priority was when the Lakers' season ended in May, in what ended up being his last game with the Los Angeles franchise. "I've done it all. I've seen it all. Being able to compete and try to win championships, I think it's a motivating factor," he said then.

This Tuesday, James acknowledged that it was an “honor” to play and enhance the greatness of the franchise, with which he was champion in 2020.

A market that begins to move around LeBron

The official period for talks with other franchises opens this Tuesday afternoon, while the signing of contracts will have to wait until the lifting of the low-season moratorium on July 6.

Among the teams that appear linked to the veteran's future is the Golden State Warriors. The possibility gained strength after Draymond Green decided not to exercise his $27.6 million salary option for next season, a maneuver that opens room for maneuver within the squad.

An eventual arrival of James to Golden State would bring together figures with whom he already has important sports ties. He shared a team with Stephen Curry and was coached by Steve Kerr during the United States Olympic gold in Paris 2024. He also faced the Warriors in four NBA Finals when he defended the colors of Cleveland.

Although Golden State appears among the mentioned options, speculation also arises about possible reunions with Cleveland or Miami, in addition to a new setting like San Antonio, where it could coincide with Victor Wembanyama.

The closing of an era in Los Angeles

The farewell also represents the end of a historic era for the Lakers.

The franchise published a statement to thank the forward, who arrived in 2018 and won the 2020 championship, in addition to becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer during that period.

“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” said Jeanie Buss, a member of the team's ownership group. "We will always be grateful for his eight years with the Lakers, including the title he led in 2020 under the most difficult circumstances imaginable and for the countless records he broke wearing the purple and gold. We wish him the best in the future, both on and off the court. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family."

He reaches the next chapter as the oldest active player in the league, with 22 selections to the All-Star Game, four Most Valuable Player awards, four Finals MVPs and more than 1,600 games played. In the most recent campaign he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game.

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