Lakers, Luka Dončić react to LeBron James leaving team in free agency: 'One of the greatest athletes in history'

· Yahoo Sports

After eight seasons, LeBron James is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. James reportedly informed the team Tuesday that he was looking to play elsewhere during the 2026-27 NBA season.

Shortly after that news broke, the Lakers confirmed as much, putting out a supportive and emotional letter from Jeanie Buss, thanking James for his contributions to the franchise.

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Buss' full note read:

"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. 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."

It didn't take long for James to respond to that message.

Buss wasn't the only member of the Lakers to send gratitude James' way. Luka Dončić also showed James love on social media.

James' tenure with Los Angeles should be viewed as a success. After a down year during James' first season in Los Angeles, the Lakers won it all in his second season. The team's championship occurred amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when all NBA teams were sequestered in a bubble as a way to prevent the disease from spreading.

The Lakers reached the playoffs nearly every season after that, though failed to advance past the Western Conference finals.

With James gone, Dončić will officially assume the role of the leading man with the Lakers. He was essentially in that position shortly after the team acquired him in February 2025, but his position as team leader was solidified more Tuesday after the James news.

Now, the biggest question James faces is where he'll play next season. Days prior to Tuesday's news, there were rumors suggesting the Golden State Warriors would make a play for the 23-year veteran.

James' own podcast seemed to play into that speculation Tuesday, putting out a video featuring James and Warriors star Stephen Curry chatting about their time together on Team USA in 2024.

Was that a not-so-subtle sign the Warriors are in James' future or merely a coincidence?

The Warriors may be the favorite to land James, though one of his former teammates suggested the Cleveland Cavaliers as a possible option.

And if, for some reason, all of that falls through, James does have a nice fallback option outside the NBA if he still wants to work.

Given James' legacy, resume and ability to still average over 20 points a game, we're guessing he'll turn Merriam-Webster down. James, however, has made some shocking decisions in free agency in the past — we all remember "The Decision," right? — so maybe the idea is not that far-fetched after all.

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