The NBA is quite literally on hold until LeBron James chooses a team for the 2026-27 season.
While at the CNBC/Boardroom Summit this Thursday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver admit that he hasn't finished up the schedule for next season yet because he's waiting on James to make a decision. That shouldn't really shock fans considering James has box office appeal and a good chunk of his regular-season games will be televised.
"We have to finish up the schedule, right? And where LeBron plays will affect the schedule," Silver told Squawk Box anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin, via The Hollywood Reporter. "So I would like him to make his announcement already, so he can finish the schedule. 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."
Silver even teased that he's got a preferred landing spot for James in mind, but he wouldn't say which team.
"On behalf of the league, I think there are certain storylines that may be better than others," Silver said.
© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.
Where is LeBron heading?
ESPN insider Shams Charania has mentioned the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers as the top suitors for James.
“This process is getting closer and closer to the end here. LeBron James has all the information that he needs to make his decision,” Charania said. “The Warriors are, to my knowledge, behind other teams such as a Miami, a Cleveland, a Philadelphia.”
While at Fanatics Fest this week, James told fans that he won't keep them waiting much longer.
We'll see if James, who averaged 23.2 points and 7.3 assists per game this past postseason, makes a decision this weekend.
