LeBron James is officially leaving the Lakers after eight seasons, and he posted a touching message on social media thanking the Lakers
LeBron James is no longer a Los Angeles Laker after eight seasons that included one NBA championship and more milestones than most players collect in a full career.
James informed the Lakers through his agent, Rich Paul, that he intends to sign with a new team for the 2026-27 season, ending an era that began when he stunned the basketball world by leaving Cleveland for L.A. back in 2018.
The Lakers responded with a farewell message from governor Jeanie Buss, who called James one of the greatest athletes in history and thanked him for the title he delivered during the COVID-19 bubble in 2020, according to ESPN.
James answered hours later on social media, writing, “No, THANK YOU! Truly a honor to wear the purple and gold while trying to continue the greatness and legacies that came before me. Hope I made a few proud during my stint.”
No, THANK YOU! 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. 🙏🏾🫡👑 https://t.co/RmQ6uvvgv0
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 30, 2026
Luka Doncic, who now inherits full control of the franchise, posted his own tribute on Instagram, calling it an honor to play with and learn from James even though their time together on the court was short.
Magic Johnson also chimed in, thanking James and Rich Paul for trusting the Lakers back in 2018 and crediting him with building a whole new era in Los Angeles that included that 2020 title run, delivered inside the NBA’s Orlando bubble during the height of the pandemic.
Hip-Hop’s relationship with James goes back years, and the culture has shown up for him plenty of times before this news broke.
Jay-Z once toasted James on the night he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA’s all-time scoring record, with Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg all showing up to celebrate right alongside Rihanna.
The Golden State Warriors are considered the early frontrunner to land him, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat also lurking as options, per CBS Sports.
Rich Paul told ESPN the decision is a happiness-led one, meaning money will not be the deciding factor in picking James’ next team.
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