LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

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Cole Sullivan

By Cole Sullivan

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LeBron James has a major decision to make over the coming weeks leading into NBA free agency, deciding whether he wants to return for a 24th season or retire.

If James elects to continue playing, he would enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. While the Los Angeles Lakers have made it clear they would love to negotiate a new deal to bring him back, several other teams are expected to show interest in the future Hall of Famer.

Two teams that have already been linked to the 41-year-old superstar are the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors, both of which former teammate Iman Shumpert suggested may make more sense for James than returning to Los Angeles.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

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Shumpert explained that if James decides to continue playing, it will likely be because he believes another championship is still within reach, and admitted he has a hard time envisioning him re-signing with the Lakers.

“I think that if he comes back he feels like he can smell another championship in the future,” Shumpert said on 'The Pat McAfee Show'. “I can't imagine him going back to the Lakers. Because one, I think the cap space is off ... I don't think he should take a pay cut and if you can figure it out in Cleveland, then why not? If you can figure it out even more, go to Golden State and play with Steph Curry.”

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James is still playing at an extremely high level despite being 41 years old, meaning any team that signs him would still be adding a highly productive player.

He is coming off a season in which he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game. He also led the Lakers through the first round of the playoffs, helping eliminate the Rockets in six games despite playing without Luka Doncic for the entire series and without Austin Reaves for all but two games.

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