LeBron James said his goodbyes to the Los Angeles Lakers more than three weeks ago, and the NBA is still waiting to know his next destination.
James, 41, told the Lakers in late June that he isn’t coming back for a ninth season. That immediately set off a free-agency race with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Minnesota Timberwolves all trying to sign him.
Fans thought they would finally get a hint when he showed up at Fanatics Fest in New York last week, but he didn’t give anything crucial. Even though he hosted live tapings for “Mind the Game” and “The Shop,” he left without naming a team. And he did trigger a brief false alarm when he joked about wanting to play for a franchise that “trusts the process.”
His agent, Rich Paul, addressed the wait during a live appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” this week. McAfee told viewers that King James has all the information he needs, joking that sports media will keep speculating until the king makes his call.
In response, Paul told frustrated fans, “Just have a little patience.”
“Just have a little patience with LeBron James..
This is a very important choice for him and he can’t rush it” ~ @RichPaul4 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/7ShvUegLcC
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 21, 2026
Paul explained that they are not toying with people’s emotions. He admitted he talked with Silver about the league’s scheduling crunch, but emphasized that the decision affects James’s family, legacy, and business interests far more than basketball.
“You cannot rush it,” Paul added. “I think he’s earned the right not to be rushed.”
And he didn’t give fans a potential date again, saying, “I don’t know. I wish I did know.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania, who previously stated that the NBA is in “decision time,” also confirmed after speaking with Paul that there is still no decision, choice, or set timetable.
James said at the CNBC/Boardroom event that he won’t hold everyone up much longer. So, fans can expect him to drop a major update sometime this week.
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