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LeBron James will play next season but plans to leave Lakers
By Logan Reardon at NBC Los Angeles (KNBC)
· June 30, 2026
· 2 min read
LeBron James isn’t retiring — but he will be on a new team next season.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer will leave the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, the team confirmed Tuesday after multiple reports.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” Lakers owner Jeanie Buss...
Key takeaway ” James, 41, spent eight seasons with the Lakers after previous stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-10, 2014-18) and Miami Heat (2010-14).
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About this story
Original reporting by NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local ·
Published: June 30, 2026 ·
Source: NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? LeBron James isn’t retiring — but he will be on a new team next season.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer will leave the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, the team confirmed Tuesday after multiple reports.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” Lakers owner Jeanie Buss...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 30, 2026 by NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Logan Reardon at NBC Los Angeles (KNBC). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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