Multiple playoff contenders have already phoned LeBron James and his representatives as the four-time NBA champion nears unrestricted free agency, ESPN insider Shams Charania said during a May 18 appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“A lot of teams are calling LeBron James and his camp,” Charania told host Pat McAfee, adding that most executives still expect the 41-year-old forward to continue playing next season.
James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 2025-26, and the Los Angeles Lakers went 39-21 in the 60 games he played. Los Angeles was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, pushing the franchise into an offseason filled with uncertainty about its cornerstone star.
The four-time MVP will become an unrestricted free agent this summer for the first time in seven years after spending the past eight campaigns with the Lakers. While many league observers still label Los Angeles the favorite to retain him, speculation has also linked the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors to the future Hall of Famer.
Immediately after the Lakers’ playoff exit, James said he had not made a decision about his future. “With my future, I don’t know, honestly. I don’t know what the future holds for me,” he told reporters.
Until James commits to a destination, front offices across the league appear poised to keep his phone ringing.
Source: Hoops Wire
