NBA superstar LeBron James is officially done with his time as a Laker, and now it’s time to choose the next (and likely final) stop of his basketball career. With multiple teams on the table, LeBron has so much to consider, and he doesn’t seem to be close to making up his mind.
For NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the process has been exciting to behold, but the degree to which it’s being dragged out is already having a ripple effect on the rest of the league. In a recent chat on ‘Game Plan,’ he explained why the league is increasingly anxious for him to make a decision.
“I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule,” said Silver. “Because as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the schedule. But it will influence how we set the schedule, how we set opening week, Christmas Day, etc.”
The NBA releases the season schedule around August every year, and the process usually begins by now, with stars being on their new teams for the upcoming season. In this case, however, LeBron’s indecision is holding up the entire thing, as networks don’t want to plan their coverage until they know where he will play. If this is his final season, it’s likely the NBA will want to have him featured for all the big games, including Christmas and opening night.
Despite the rising urgency, however, the King has made it clear that he’s in no rush to pick his next team. In what could be the last time he changes jerseys, he wants to make sure he gets this right and joins a situation that can maximize whatever time he has left. That means finding a place where he can not only succeed, but also win plenty of games while playing a meaningful role. Those are reasonable demands for such an iconic basketball legend, but it doesn’t make the decision-making process any easier.
As it stands, at least 12+ teams have called with interest for James, who averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game on 51.5% shooting and 31.7% shooting from three last season. Even at 41, he’s capable of making a high impact, and his leadership can bring out the best of any locker room. That’s not to mention that LeBron is open to taking a massive pay cut, meaning teams can get all of his usual greatness without having to gut their entire roster.
In the end, there’s no clear or obvious answer for LeBron, which explains why his decision is taking so long. With the stakes so high and so many variables to consider, narrowing down the list of teams has not been easy, especially since so many are involved. As it stands, multiple teams have made a public appeal, including the 76ers, Cavaliers, Heat, Warriors, and Timberwolves. There are also teams like the Nuggets and Knicks, who are considered underdogs in the race.
At this point, we have to assume a decision is imminent, despite reports he could hold out until August. LeBron has all the information he needs to make up his mind, and he’s already heard various arguments on where he should go next. Over the next few days, he’ll likely consult with his friends and family for wisdom, but it shouldn’t be long now before we find out where his basketball story finally ends.