As speculation mounts over the next move for King LeBron James (41), who recently parted ways with the Los Angeles Lakers, his agent has broken his silence.
Rich Paul, James’s longtime friend and agent, appeared on a podcast on Tuesday and made it clear: It’s not rushing into anything. The final decision rests with LeBron, and he’ll make that call when he’s ready.
Having bid farewell to the Lakers after last season, James is now exploring his options for a new team. Despite being on the north side of 40, he remains a hot commodity, drawing interest from several franchises.
Paul revealed that he asked the teams interested in LeBron if there was anything else they needed to do, and they said no. It has got a crystal-clear picture of where each team stands, and all the necessary information has been exchanged.
Should James, now a free agent (FA), sign with a new team for the upcoming season, he’ll be embarking on his 24th National Basketball Association (NBA) campaign – an all-time record for career longevity in the league.
The Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Miami Heat are all in the mix, with three Eastern Conference teams emerging as frontrunners.
James made several public appearances in New York last week but kept his cards close to his chest, offering only a cryptic that he won’t keep us waiting much longer.
The NBA front office is also on pins and needles awaiting James’s decision. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted that they need James’s announcement to lock in next season’s schedule.
Paul confirmed he met with Commissioner Silver in New York but stressed that this is LeBron’s call to make. If he’s not 100% sure, there’s no need to rush things.