LeBron James’ Lakers story comes to a close without a Hollywood ending
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LeBron James will play a 24th NBA season, but it won't be with the Los Angeles Lakers. Adam Hagy / Getty Images
By Law MurrayJune 30, 2026 Updated 4:44 pm EDTBack in September, Rob Pelinka was asked about LeBron James’ future after James chose to exercise the final year of his contract rather than pursue an extension or a new deal in the 2025 offseason.
“We would love if LeBron’s story would be to retire as a Laker,” Pelinka said. “That’d be a positive story.”
The story took a different turn Tuesday. Rather than retire as a Laker, James is leaving Los Angeles to finish his career elsewhere, closing one of the most consequential six-year partnerships in franchise history.
After eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances, James was an unrestricted free agent in 2018. Of 30 NBA teams, the Los Angeles Lakers had the most losses between the 2013-14 and 2017-18 seasons with 284. That was more than the Process-era Philadelphia 76ers and the Phil Jackson New York Knicks. More than the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves, all of whom were in various stages of postseason droughts that lasted at least a decade.
What are NBA lottery picks' favorite LeBron memories?Eric NehmThat’s right — the face of the game chose the franchise with the worst record in basketball over a five-year span as the place to play out the latter half of his prime. And the Lakers were still bad when James arrived, putting together a “Meme Team” that had to hear “LeBron’s gonna trade you” in Indiana right before the 2019 trade deadline.
I still believe the shared embarrassment of that 2018-19 season is what fueled the Lakers to the top of the Western Conference in 2019-20. They turned all of that young talent and relevant draft capital into Anthony Davis, put together a focused season and won a championship in October 2020 inside the pits of Disney World.
The Lakers won four playoff series in the bubble after going seven straight seasons without winning one. The bubble ring was legitimate, but the Lakers never validated that championship afterward, winning just three playoff series with James over the next six seasons.
The Lakers spent this past season preparing for life after LeBron James. There’s a new owner in place. There’s an already established star in Luka Dončić. The Lakers gave Austin Reaves the bag after he spent a year being the team’s No. 2 option. James had to find his place, but when he had to lead the Lakers to a playoff series win against a dilapidated Houston Rockets team, he showed he could get it done — perhaps his final triumph for a franchise that tends to minimize accomplishments if they don’t end in a championship.
“I’m not looking at my year as a disappointment, that’s for damn sure,” James said the night the Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Lakers last month. “I was put in some positions that I’ve never played in my career before. Actually in my life. I’ve never been a third option in my whole life. So to be able to thrive in that role for that period of time, and then have to step back into the role that I’ve been accustomed with over my career, over my life, playing the sport and be able to thrive under that. And then just my teammates allowing me to lead them under extreme circumstances? That was pretty cool for me, at this stage of my career.”
This is how James’ Los Angeles story ends. He isn’t retiring with the Lakers. He’s off somewhere else to finish the longest basketball story the NBA has ever written. James said he has “done it all, seen it all,” and isn’t trying to prove anything individually that he hasn’t already done.
What You Should Read Next
LeBron James’ Lakers legacy is complicated and ultimately a little unsatisfying
What did James make people in Los Angeles feel? The answer is probably not enough for either James or Lakers fans.
As for the Lakers, they should be thankful that James chose them in the first place — and thankful that the Dallas Mavericks handed them a life raft in Dončić before it was time to turn the page.
Jun 30, 2026No, THANK YOU! Truly a honor to wear the 💜💛 while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint. 🙏🏾🫡👑 https://t.co/RmQ6uvvgv0
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 30, 2026
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
