LeBron James‘ future with the Los Angeles Lakers is up in the air at this point, as he will be entering free agency in 2026. There has even been talk about James leaving the Lakers even midway through the 2025-26 season, but former Lakers champion Robert Horry stated on the Big Shot Bob podcast that he will stay and eventually retire with the team.
“I don’t think he’s going anywhere just because his daughter is doing good here, his wife’s doing good here,” Horry said. “He’s really close to his other son, who is going to Arizona. He’s playing with Bronny [James].
“It’s too many factors for him, knowing the family man that he is, that he’s gonna say, ‘Alright, I’m gonna go to New York because they got a good chance to win the East,'” Horry continued. “I don’t think he’s going anywhere. I think he’s fine and he’s going to end his career here.”
James’ family being so well settled in Los Angeles is indeed a good reason to believe he is not going anywhere. They have been there since 2018, and uprooting them just for a couple of years won’t be ideal.
Horry, who won seven NBA titles in his career, believes it also won’t be ideal for James’ legacy to move to another team in his career.
“Every player talks about their legacy,” Horry stated. “If LeBron moves again, that is too many teams for him in his legacy. You think about Dirk [Nowitzki], you think about Tim [Duncan], you think about Kobe [Bryant]. These are legendary players that kind of stayed with one team for a certain amount of time. I just don’t think he’s gonna wanna move again. I just don’t see it.”
James has played for three teams so far in the NBA. He started off with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 and then headed over to the Miami Heat in 2010. James then returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 and left again four years later to join the Lakers in 2018. Would going to a fourth team impact his legacy too much? That seems unlikely, but Horry wouldn’t be the only one to think along those lines.
Robert Horry Isn’t Expecting The 2025-26 Season To Be LeBron James’ Last
James remains one of the best players in the NBA today, but he hasn’t shut the door on retiring after the 2025-26 season. Horry believes, though, that he will play beyond 2026.
“I think he has more in him,” Horry said. “… He’s still playing at a high level.”
James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game for the Lakers in 2024-25. The 40-year-old made the All-NBA Second Team and is still a force on the court.
Provided James avoids a serious injury, there does seem to be enough gas in the tank to carry on for a couple more seasons. Staying around would also allow him to potentially play with his younger son, Bryce James, but he has made it clear he won’t delay retirement just for that reason. There will be many other factors that play a role in that.
James has also stated that being in the final year of his deal won’t distract him from the task at hand. He is going to give it his all out there on the court as he chases his fifth NBA championship. James is excited about the team around him and is looking forward to the challenges than lie ahead.
