Given recent buzz, it may be time for fans of the Los Angeles Lakers to brace for the possibility that star forward LeBron James will be playing elsewhere by the start of the 2025-26 season.
Now, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has stated that James and the Lakers are “beginning to move apart” and appears to feel that James’ time with the Lakers is “beginning to come to an end.”
It’s worth noting, however, that Windhorst didn’t mention a timeline and indicated that James’ eventual departure from the Lakers could look a variety of ways, including via retirement down the road or a trade. He made the comments on Wednesday.
“I would say that’s uncertain,” said Windhorst on ESPN Cleveland when asked if James will finish his career with the Lakers. “And I would say one thing I feel pretty good about today, although things can pivot, is that LeBron’s time with the Lakers is beginning to come to an end, you know? They are beginning to move apart. You can actually argue that that started when they traded for Luka [Doncic].
“I know that everybody thought that LeBron was in on that. And I know I said at the time I didn’t believe that. LeBron was not in on it. I don’t know what to tell you. He was not in on it. He wasn’t against it, you know? I think he was shocked that they traded Anthony Davis. But LeBron was not in part of that decision process. I know that there are people who believe that he’s a general manager and you can’t talk them out of it, so I will not try. But that was a move that was away from LeBron as the center of the team.”
James is the NBA’s oldest player at 40 years old and has played in the league for more than two decades now. He kicked off his pro career with the Cleveland Cavaliers all the way back in the 2003-04 campaign.
“The beginning of LeBron’s departure from the Lakers has begun,” said Windhorst. “Now, that departure could be into retirement. That departure could be another way. But another way is on the table. And I don’t know how it’s gonna play out. I’m not gonna pretend that’s how it’s gonna play out.
“I have talked to the parties involved. They are not clearly stating their intentions. … I’m listening very closely. I’m asking questions. They are not clearly stating their intentions. So, there’s no way I can give you a clear answer talking to the direct sources here. So, that’s where we’re at.
“Now, I would have said four days ago when this happened — when LeBron opted into his contract — I would have said that there was no chance of him getting traded. At the time, I didn’t think so. After having conversations over the last three or four days, I am no longer saying there is no chance. I am not sounding the alarm, like run to the trade machine, but I am no longer in that spot. I’m not saying it’s likely, but I cannot responsibly say that there’s no chance anymore.”
If James has played his last game in a Lakers uniform, it’s likely he will still be viewed by many as a Lakers great, even if he didn’t necessarily spend his prime years with the storied franchise. James has spent the last seven seasons in Los Angeles, a span in which he has averaged 26.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game across 419 total regular-season games.
Perhaps the biggest reason why James should be considered an all-time great Laker is that he guided the team to its 17th championship in franchise history back in 2020.
In just his second season with Los Angeles, he helped the team reach the NBA’s mountaintop, and he took home the Finals MVP award after he averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game against the Miami Heat in the championship series.
Folks shouldn’t surmise that it’s set in stone that James’ time as a Laker has come to an end, however. After all, he’s ultimately still a member of the team at this point in time after he exercised his player option for the 2025-26 season. The likeliest outcome may even be that he returns to L.A.
It should be interesting to find out what James’ NBA future will look like. Right now, it appears that there are a number of options on the table.