While nobody truly knows when or where LeBron James is going to sign and take his talents to finish out his legendary NBA career, the feeling is that it will come in the Eastern Conference.
Most of the contenders out East — Cleveland, Miami, and Philadelphia — remain squarely in the running to land James, however, the 2024-25 Eastern Conference champions don’t appear to be one of them.
In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Tyrese Haliburton revealed what James had to say in response to his pitch to join him on the Indiana Pacers, and it’s safe to say it won’t be happening.
“I texted him before Fanatics Fest and I said hey you should come be a Pacer and he responded with six laughing crying faces. I thought it was two, I thought it was two, I said that during our interview that it was two, then I went back and looked at the text it was six,”
The 41-year-old LeBron is, of course, a UFA having completed the two-year, $104 million contract extension he signed with the Lakers in 2024. He averaged 20.9 points per game, 7.2 assists per game, and 6.1 rebounds per game in 60 games played last season.
James not going to Indiana isn’t much of a surprise, although in terms of a true basketball fit, you could make a case that he would push the Pacers back into being true title contenders.
That being said, Indiana just doesn’t stack up against coming home to Cleveland, a return to Miami, joining a stacked squad in Philadelphia, or even teaming up with Stephen Curry in Golden State.
Haliburton knows that, and although they won’t be landing James, the Pacers should still get back to being a force to be reckoned with if they’re healthy again in 2026-27.
Next: 9 All-Stars Crack Insider’s Top 25 MLB Trade Deadline Candidates
