LeBron James went from his hometown to Tinseltown — here’s where he will likely take his talents next, ranked

After LeBron James decided not to return to the Lakers for his unprecedented 24th NBA season, teams are clamoring to sign one of the greatest players of all-time, who apparently isn’t factoring money into his free-agency decision for the first time in his career. 

The competition has gotten so intense that even the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, weighed in by reposting a report about how the state has the US’s best quality of life and tagging James in it. The PGA Tour got in on the fun as well, posting a photoshopped image of James wearing a Tour-branded polo and cap. Several NFL teams also jokingly shot their shot at the James sweepstakes.

With the competition fierce and James’s decision approaching, let’s break down where the four-time champion and four-time MVP will most likely land, based on conversations with league sources. They’re ranked in descending order of likelihood. 

Golden State Warriors

Pros: James has said that if he could play alongside anyone in the NBA, it would be Steph Curry. They won a gold medal together at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. They met in four straight Finals from 2015-2018. They dominated the NBA over the last decade. How fun would it be if they teamed up in the twilight of their careers? It would be the greatest show in town, regardless of how deep they went in the playoffs. Not to mention, James is good friends with Draymond Green and has a lot of respect for Warriors coach Steve Kerr. 

Cons: Next season, James will be 42, Curry will be 39 and Green will be 37. That’s geriatric in NBA terms. How could they compete against vastly younger and deeper teams such as the Spurs and Thunder? And if Anthony Davis is traded to the Warriors as part of the deal to acquire James, they’d just be adding another oft-injured player to a roster that’s already one injury away from disaster. 

Comment: It would be pure cinema. It would be worth the risk. It’s where James would have the most fun.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Pros: This would tie a bow on James’ illustrious career. It’s where he was drafted in 2003 as the prospect with the highest expectations in NBA history. It’s where he sprinted past those expectations. It’s where he completed the greatest comeback of all-time, helping the Cavaliers storm back from a 3-1 series deficit in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Warriors, winning the franchise’s first-ever championship.

When the Lakers played in Cleveland in January, James teared up during a video tribute. This franchise still means so much to him. He grew up just 40 miles from Cleveland in Akron, Ohio. He still refers to himself as “The kid from Akron.” The basketball case would be pretty compelling too, with him playing alongside Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

Cons: James wouldn’t want to be so far from his family. He has emphasized how hard it has been to miss so many of his children’s milestones throughout his career. He’s not going to move to the East Coast and be absent for all of his 11-year-old daughter’s volleyball games. Also, ever since James turned 40, his passion has become golf. Cleveland winters don’t exactly facilitate beautiful days spent on the green. 

Comment: This would be the storybook ending for James. But it’s hard to imagine he’d pull the trigger on it. 

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Miami Heat

Pros: The Heat already acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, and pairing him with James would be thrilling. James has strong ties to the Heat after carrying them to four straight Finals from 2011-2014, winning two championships. James has great relationships with Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra. It’s hard to imagine James going somewhere in which he has no history at this point, so the Heat could be a destination that makes sense. 

Cons: When James returned to Miami in March, it was obvious he doesn’t have the same sentimentality for the franchise that he has for Cleveland. He didn’t get choked up. He didn’t wax poetic about his time in Miami. Also, it’s going to take a while for the Heat to figure things out and become contenders in the East. Considering James is fast-approaching retirement, time is a luxury he doesn’t have.

Comment: James and Antetokounmpo would be an exciting pairing, but I don’t think this is really on the table. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Pros: This would be a basketball dream fit for James. Imagine him playing alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels. That team would be so good. James loves Edwards, whom he mentored during the Olympic Games. The two of them would be riffing off of each other in the locker room and creating poetry on the hardwood. 

Cons: It’s Minnesota. It’s freezing. It’s wet. That about sums it up.

Comment: There’s no way James is moving to freezing Minnesota. It’s fun to imagine, but this is a nonstarter. 

Denver Nuggets

Pros: If there’s one player James doesn’t hesitate to heap praise on besides Curry, it’s Nikola Jokic. After the Nuggets swept the Lakers out of the 2023 Western Conference Finals, James was in awe of Jokic, praising his basketball IQ and literally tipping his hat to him. On his “Mind the Game” podcast, James added that Jokic is the most “dominant, complete player” he has played against.  

Cons: James has no history with the Nuggets. Narratives are important to him. Would he really join Jokic’s team in what would potentially be his final season? Nah. 

Comment: It would be fun in theory, but it ain’t happening. 

Honorable mention: San Antonio Spurs

Pros: If James were prioritizing winning his fifth championship above all else, he should go to San Antonio. Led by the 7-foot-4 phenom Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs skyrocketed past their expectations this season, reaching the NBA Finals. But they lacked something very important: Someone with championship experience who could lead them in crunch time. They had double-digit leads in each of their four losses before making last-second mistakes that had major repercussions. James would be the perfect antidote to those mental collapses. He’d be surrounded by young guns. But San Antonio just signed Tobias Harris to a two years, $31 million deal, all but closing the door on that opportunity.

Cons: Before the Harris signing, this was fun to think about. The idea of a real-life passing of the torch from James to Wembanyama would’ve been fascinating to witness.

Comment: Oh, well. It was fun to think about for three seconds.