LeBron James Sweepstakes Reportedly Down to 2 NBA Teams

LeBron James is a free agent for the first time in eight years, and multiple teams have shown interest in signing the 41-year-old for his final act.

According to Alex Schiffer of Front Office Sports, everybody but the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors should take their ball and go home.

“Multiple Western Conference executives told Front Office Sports they expect James to sign with the Warriors over the Cavaliers for his 24th NBA season,” Schiffer wrote. “While Cleveland has been the favorite on prediction markets - and Bill Simmons said the move was a ‘done deal’ - some executives believe Golden State is still a real player for James's services.

“While another league source expects James to sign with the Cavaliers, the consensus among executives polled by FOS is that James will likely pick between the Warriors and Cavaliers.”

Of course, James, an Akron native, was the No. 1 overall draft pick of the Cavaliers in 2003. As the reigning back-to-back NBA MVP, he departed Cleveland, in his famous “The Decision,” for the Miami Heat in 2010. He won back-to-back NBA titles with the Heat in 2012 and 2013 - as well as his third and fourth MVPs - before returning to Cleveland in 2014.

James and the Cavaliers developed an intense rivalry with the Warriors from 2014 to 2018, with the Warriors winning three champions in four years. The exception came in 2016, when James led the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 series deficit to win the 2016 NBA Finals.

James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in July 2018 and won his fourth ring in 2020. The 22-time All-Star bid farewell to the Lakers on June 30.

"No, THANK YOU!” James posted in response to the Lakers’ official statement. “Truly a honor to wear the [purple heart emoji, yellow heart emoji] while trying to continu[e] the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint [prayer hands emoji, salute emoji, crown emoji].”

It makes so much sense on paper for James to finish where he began, back home in Cleveland, but it must be enticing to go play with fellow all-time greats Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, and to be coached by the venerable Steve Kerr, in the Bay.

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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 10:36 PM.