James announced that he will play during the 2026-27 season, but it will not be with the Lakers, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
James has informed the franchise that they can move on without him because he intends to play elsewhere. Retirement never seemed likely for James, as he continues to defy Father Time. Now that his intentions are public, it will be interesting to see which teams pursue him. Based on previous reports, it's likely that the Warriors, Cavaliers and Heat will make a run at him.