LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers confirmed an amicable split with kind words on social media.
James won't return to the Lakers after eight seasons with the organization. The Lakers verified reports of the 41-year-old's departure by sharing a statement from owner Jeanie Buss on social media.
"LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history," Buss said. "We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers—including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold. We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family."
James responded to the post with his own message of gratitude to the Lakers.
"No, THANK YOU!" James wrote. "Truly a honor to wear the 💜💛 while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint."
James leaving Los Angeles
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
James joined the Lakers in 2018 following a successful second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The four-time MVP led the Lakers to a championship in 2020, and he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time leading scorer in 2023.
LeBron remained a perennial All-Star with his third NBA team, averaging 25.9 points, 7.9 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game during his Lakers tenure. He played 201 games over the last three regular seasons after not exceeding 56 in any of the three prior campaigns.
Although James continued to play at a high level, the Lakers fell out of championship contention. They followed consecutive first-round playoff eliminations by getting swept in the second round by the Oklahoma City Thunder this year.
The Lakers will embark on a new chapter behind Luka Doncic, who posted a farewell message to LeBron on his Instagram Stories page.
"An honor to play with and learn from you," Doncic wrote.
Meanwhile, James will seek a new home for his 24th season. A source close to the icon told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne that his camp feels "no rush" to make a decision.
