After eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, NBA superstar LeBron James is saying farewell. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, LeBron has informed the Lakers that he will not return to the team. James is an unrestricted free agent and is free to sign with any team that can afford whatever contract demands he makes.
James has informed the Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday.
James averaged
20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.5 steals in 33.2 minutes per game over 60 appearances for the Lakers last season. It was his 22nd straight NBA All-Star campaign.
Eight seasons is the longest James has spent at any single location in an unbroken streak in his NBA career. He has also played for the Miami Heat and twice for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Golden State Warriors are rumored to be pursuing James in free agency. We can’t help but notice that the Portland Trail Blazers just traded away a veteran power forward yesterday, though. And now LeBron suddenly announces that he doesn’t want to play in L.A. anymore.
Coincidence? You decide.
