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LeBron James 2026 free agency: ‘The King’ shares NBA decision timeline

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The King has spoken.

LeBron James has presented a timeline regarding his future and when to expect an update on his decisions. Yes, plural.

James, 41, will be an unrestricted free agent coming off his 23rd NBA season where he led the league in fast break points while averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. He could consider retirement. Or, he could opt for his 24th NBA season – further extending the NBA record for most seasons played.

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And if year 24 is the answer, there would most definitely be suitors. But pump the brakes.

During an episode of his podcast “Mind The Game” with Steve Nash, James shared that he hasn’t really thought about what his next chapter is going to be, whether retirement, a return to the Los Angeles Lakers or possibly even a different team.

“I’m still in the moment of like, just taking my time,” James said. “I haven’t even really thought about it too much. Obviously, I understand that I’m a free agent and I can control my own destiny, (if it’s) being here with this (Lakers) franchise for the foreseeable future, or if it’s going somewhere else.”

James elaborated on a timeline leaning into late summer for when he’d have a decision, but first come his priorities – family.

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“I haven’t even really even gotten to that point. I haven’t even taken my family vacation yet, which is going to happen after Memorial Day. That’s kind of the thing at the forefront of my mind,” James said. “But I think at some point you know, up until late June, as July rolls around, free agency starts to get going and July’s rolling and maybe into August we start to kind of like get a feel of what my future may look like.”

Whether James continues to play the game that he loves is up in the air. What’s not in question is his ability to do so.

James said he knows he can “still give so much to the game and play at a high level” but hasn’t came to a point where he’s making a decision.

“When I get there, it’d be fun to kind of see what the future could hold,” he said.

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LeBron and Bronny James making NBA history together during 2026 season

Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) and forward LeBron James jog up the court after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets of Game 4 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 26, 2026.

Factors into LeBron James’ next decision

If James decides to play, it wouldn’t be for a bottom-feeder team. Contenders only. Correction, championship contenders only. It’s the only scenario James feels comfortable in at this point in his illustrious career.

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Teams in rebuild mode or that just don’t have it yet put together need not consider themselves in the LeBron James sweepstakes this offseason.

“No, there’s no way,” James said when asked about “starting over” with a team on the bottom. “There’s no way. I mean, you know, winning is most important, because you want to be excited about going to work every day. You want to be excited about, you know, like I said earlier, winning the day and being around a group of guys that you know feel the same way.”

He added: “Trying not to take steps backwards and understand the season is a long marathon, and whatever the case may be, but those building blocks throughout the course of the season is what matters to when you get to the marathon or when you get to the sprint, which is now, you know, the postseason. I’m not going anywhere it’s a start over at year 24 or things of that nature, I’m done with that.”

But James is also a family man, and that’s a high priority.

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“That’s very important, and it’s up there. I mean, 1A and 1B is like, where do I feel comfortable with doing with my career, but also with my family,” he said. “How do they feel about whatever the decision that I’m able to come up with and make. That’s a joint decision as well. I give them the insight, both my boys, my daughter and my wife. You know, so you know it’s 1A and 1B. I don’t think one is higher than the other, whatever the case may be.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James 2026 free agency: Retirement or 24th NBA season?

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