LeBron James
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LeBron James has had two stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers in his NBA career.
This season is LeBron James‘ 23rd year in the league, spending 11 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers. James had two stints in Cleveland, while he’s in his eighth season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“King James” arrived in Los Angeles via free agency back in 2018, signing a four-year, $153.5 million contract. He led the Lakers to their 17th NBA championship in 2020 inside the bubble.
The four-time MVP is in the final season of his contract with the Lakers, and he could become a free agent this summer. It will be the fourth time he’s entered free agency in his legendary career.
At the age of 41 years old, he’s still among the best players in the league. He has shown signs of aging, but he’s averaging 22.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game this season.
James Wanted to Stay in Cleveland
Before signing with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, LeBron James reportedly had no plans of leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers. James was more than happy to stay close to home, but something changed in 2017.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst revealed on The Sedano & Kap Morning Show that James planned to stay in Cleveland until his co-star, Kyrie Irving, suddenly didn’t want to play with him anymore.
“I think LeBron intended to stay in Cleveland and then the Kyrie Irving thing blew up. And that was in 2017. LeBron decided before his last year that he was going to be done in Cleveland. I think in 2017, he looked around and saw the Lakers and saw a great opportunity. And whether he decided he wanted to do that in August of 2017 or whenever,” Windhorst said, via RealGM.
Windhorst added that the Cavaliers weren’t initially aware of his free agency plans in 2014. The Cavs were reportedly interested in Gordon Hayward at the time before Rich Paul called the Cavs front office and told them James was open to a reunion.
After two championships in four seasons with the Miami Heat, James was back in Cleveland. His second stint lasted for four years, which resulted in one title in four NBA Finals appearances.
Jeanie Buss Wanted to Trade LeBron in 2022
In an explosive report by ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, sources within the Lakers said that Jeanie Buss wanted to trade LeBron James to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2022. Buss was tightening her inner circle after all the issues with his siblings at the time.
Holmes also reported that Buss didn’t want to extend James’ contract in 2023, but she was left with no choice. Bronny James was also mentioned, with the Lakers team governor allegedly feeling that LeBron wasn’t appreciative of what the franchise did for him and his son in 2024.
After the report was released, Buss released a statement to Sam Amick of The Athletic, condemning the inclusion of James in the Buss family drama.
“It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama. To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him,” Buss said.
NBA on Prime’s Chris Haynes added more intrigue by reporting that “something is about to go down” regarding James and the Lakers.