LeBron James Responds to Lakers' Parting Message
LeBron James' era in L.A. with the Los Angeles Lakers is officially over. On Tuesday, Klutch Sports CEO and James' agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN that the 41-year-old superstar is leaving the Purple and Gold franchise.
James plans to continue his playing career in the 2026-27 season, but it won't be with the Lakers. According to Paul, James has informed the team that it can "move on without him," per Shams Charania.
The Lakers reportedly want to bring him back, but to no avail, as James is adamant about moving on and finding a new team.
James' exit was made official when the Lakers sent him a parting message, along with a statement from team governor Jeanie Buss.
"LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history. We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers - including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold," Buss said in a statement.
"We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family."
The Lakers shared the message on social media with a simple caption, "Thank you, LeBron!"
James, for his part, responded to the message and made sure to show his appreciation for the Lakers. He also expressed hope that he made the fans proud during his eight-year run with the team.
"No, THANK YOU! Truly a honor to wear the [purple and gold] while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint," James wrote.
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
James won a championship with the Lakers in 2020, the team's first title since 2010. Throughout his time with the team, he was an NBA All-Star every season. He finished his L.A. career with averages of 25.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.2 steals across 478 games.
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Now, it will be interesting to see where James heads next as he continues his career. He will be 42 in December, but he showed last season that he can still be an impactful player on the court.
James put up 20.9 points on 51.5% shooting, along with 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 60 regular season games played for the Lakers.
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This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 6:52 PM.