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🤯 Stars react to LeBron James leaving Lakers

ESPN · Jun 30, 2026, 10:59 PM · Also reported by 4 other sources

Key takeaways

  • For the first time since July 2018, Le Bron James won't be suiting up in the purple and gold.
  • James informed the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday.
  • It ends a tenure that began in 2018 when James stunned the sports world and signed with the Lakers.

Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.

For the first time since July 2018, Le Bron James won't be suiting up in the purple and gold.

James informed the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday.

It ends a tenure that began in 2018 when James stunned the sports world and signed with the Lakers. He led the franchise to a championship in 2020 and won his fourth NBA Finals MVP. James made history in February 2023 in a Lakers uniform, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points in NBA history. Los Angeles made the playoffs in all but two of his seasons with the team.

Article preview — originally published by ESPN. Full story at the source.
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