Report: Virtually ‘every contender’ in NBA has called about LeBron

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he decides to continue his NBA career.

The 41-year-old has not announced if he’s coming back for a 24th NBA season, but ESPN’s Shams Charania provided some insight into James’ future, revealing that virtually “every contender” has reached out about the veteran.

“I do know a lot of teams are calling him and his camp,” Charania said of James. “I spoke to Rich Paul the other day at the Chicago draft combine last week, and he told me like every contender in the NBA has essentially, since the season ended, placed a call. So, that line is gonna continue to be open. But listen, LeBron, all indications throughout the season have been that he’s gonna play another year. We’ll see if that remains to be true. He’s gotta take that time. We’ve never seen this.”

Charania continued.

“I think the expectation has been that probably you’re gonna get one more, and we’ll see if it’s gonna be with the Lakers or somewhere else,” he said. “But listen, being in L.A., having that comfortability, and the Lakers want him, I think all those factors do play a part.”

The Lakers have a lot of decisions to make in the offseason as they look to build a contender around Luka Doncic, but it’s hard to argue that there are many better options than James that will be available.

In the 2025-26 season, the four-time champion made yet another All-Star Game, and he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from 3.

With Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined to begin the playoffs, James led the Lakers to a 3-0 series lead against the Houston Rockets and eventually took them to the second round before they were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Reaves didn’t return until Game 5 against Houston (and Doncic never returned), yet James was able to do enough to keep the Lakers’ season alive.

During the playoff run for L.A. (10 games), James ended up averaging 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. So, it makes sense that other teams that are contending for a title would want the superstar going into next season.

James has been to the NBA Finals 10 times in his career, winning titles with the Miami Heat (twice), Cleveland Cavaliers and Lakers. He led L.A. to a title in the 2019-20 season during the COVID-19 pandemic and was named the Finals MVP.

If James does decide to return to the NBA, it appears the Lakers are interested in him returning to the team.

The first step for a reunion between James and the Lakers is the 41-year-old deciding to suit up again in the 2026-27 season, but if he does come back, the Lakers may have some competition for his services.