According to a report by Shams Charania, LeBron James has informed the Los Angeles Lakers he will not be returning. Charnia writes in a post on Tuesday. “LeBron James will continue his NBA career for the 2026-27 season and has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN.”

James spent the last eight seasons in Los Angeles.

This has been rumored for a couple of days and NBA insider Brian Windhorst reports, “The Warriors told Jimmy Butler they’re not trading him. I think the focus right now is can they get LeBron James away from the Lakers. That’s something they’re going to try and get done, today.”

Speculation is that the Warriors are trying to build a dream team that includes Steph Curry, James, Anthony Davis, and Draymond Green. Marc Stein writes, “The Warriors are at the front of the line in pursuit of LeBron James in free agency and league sources tell @TheSteinLine that Golden State is not operating as though it has a mandate to also pursue an Anthony Davis trade.”

To get this done, James will presumably sign a “below-market-price.”

Charania adds:

“After eight seasons with the Lakers, including leading the franchise to the 2020 NBA championship, James departs and enters free agency set to join a new team.

Lakers president Rob Pelinka and Rich Paul spoke a short time ago about the four-time champion’s plans, sources said. James chose to inform the Lakers well before start of free agency tonight out of courtesy and appreciation for their run together, and to allow LA to conduct its offseason business.” Until today, it was said that James had been unreachable.

Wherever he winds up, it’ll be LeBron’s 24th NBA season and team No. 4 after stints with the Cavaliers (twice), Heat and Lakers.

Next: Warriors Going All-In: The Plan to Land LeBron and Anthony Davis With Curry and Green