With the Los Angeles Lakers officially in the offseason, NBA superstar LeBron James is now an unrestricted free agent, and what he does next remains a mystery.
Much has been made about James’ future, whether that’s with the Lakers, on another team, or in retirement, but right now, his next plans are still unknown.
However, as a free agent, there is a real chance James has played his last game for the Lakers, capping off what was a strong eight-year run in Los Angeles.
As a team that is known for its statues outside the Crypto.com Arena, when asked about whether James was deserving of one himself, Lakers’ owner Jeanie Buss gave an honest response.
Jeanie Buss On A LeBron James Statue Outside Crypto.Com Arena
GettyLAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 and owner Jeanie Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers hug after winning the 2020 NBA Championship Final over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
The Lakers’ home arena features a Star Plaza, memorializing some of the greatest players, coaches, and others involved in the organization over the franchise’s illustrious history.
Now, with James potentially done playing for Los Angeles, current owner Buss was asked about the 41-year-old’s chances of getting a statue of his own.
“He’s still playing. We don’t talk about statues until someone retires,” Buss said in response to the question about James getting a statue. “He’s (been) playing great.”
Buss, who won’t be the Lakers’ owner for too much longer after Mark Walter’s historic purchase of the team, was also asked if any other players should have a statue outside the arena, to which she gave a vague response.
“We’ve talked about that. The first statue was Magic [Johnson]. Then we’ve gone back and added Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] and players like that,” Buss added. “It’s always out there.”
Much like James’ future in free agency, there’s a lot that’s been made about his relationship with Buss. Baxter Holmes of ESPN published an in-depth piece on the Buss family, adding details that pointed to a rocky relationship between the current owner and the league’s all-time leading scorer. The owner denied the claims, and the player didn’t address them directly.
LeBron James Free Agency Future With The Lakers
GettyLOS 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.
James is an unrestricted free agent this summer and has three options on the table: go back to the Lakers, join another team like the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, or a different franchise, or enter retirement.
Just a few days after the Lakers’ season ended at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, there has been massive speculation and reporting about what James will do next, but for the time being, nothing is set in stone.
Many believe he will return to Los Angeles, while others think he’s off to a new team. Very few have hinted at the 41-year-old already playing his last NBA game, as retirement looks to be the least likely option.
In a deep dive on the Lakers’ offseason, Dan Woike and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that James doesn’t know what his next plans are, as he’s stated in the past. That was doubled down on by Dave McMemanim in a recent article published on ESPN, reporting that while it could be good for James and the Lakers to continue their relationship, it remains to be seen if that will happen.
“We probably haven’t seen a player that has honored the game to the extent that he’s honored the game,” Lakers GM Rob Pelinka said of James at the team’s end-of-season press conference. “He’s given so much to his teammates, to this organization. And the thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him back. …Any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster.”
James’ future in free agency will likely be the most discussed topic of the NBA offseason, but just like his potential of getting a statue outside the Lakers arena, it remains a mystery.
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