The LeBron James era is over for the Lakers — and it'll be a tough act to follow
Ben RohrbachSenior writerTue, June 30, 2026 at 8:23 PM UTC·5 min readIt is apparently the end of another era in Los Angeles, where free-agent superstar LeBron James has informed the Lakers that, while he does plan to continue his 23-year NBA career, he does not plan on returning to their team.
James averaged 25.9 points (on 51/36/73 shooting splits), 7.9 assists and 7.7 rebounds in 34.9 minutes per game over eight seasons for the Lakers, leading them to the 2020 NBA championship. James' eight seasons in L.A. marked his longest stretch anywhere and fell a few years shy of his combined total of 11 seasons on his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.
AdvertisementAdvertisementWas James' tenure on the Lakers a success?
He joined a boatload of prospects — Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Alex Caruso, Ivica Zubac, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma among them — and could only carry them to 37 wins in the 2018-19 season, when he dealt with considerable injury for the first time in his career.
So, the Lakers pivoted, partnering James with his fellow Klutch Sports client, Anthony Davis, who helped deliver a championship inside the Orlando bubble in October 2020.
"LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history," Lakers governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement. "We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers — including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold. We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part off the Lakers family."
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe partnership between James and Davis lasted five-plus seasons together, resulting in playoff series victories in just one other year, when they reached the 2023 Western Conference finals. The Lakers, in February 2025, stunningly traded Davis in a package for All-NBA First Team mainstay Luka Dončić, who became the newest face of the franchise.
Should the Lakers have traded James then? They opted not to, patching together a fringe contender around Dončić, James and the emergence of Austin Reaves. They lost in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, and then — largely without Dončić and Reaves, who were both injured — James led them to the second round of the 2026 playoffs, where they were soundly swept by the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
James had become a third option in his 40s — albeit arguably the league's best — in Los Angeles, where Dončić and Reaves are now signed for the long term. He served as a primary playmaker when both went down in the postseason, but he was no longer good enough to lead a hodgepodge of players beyond the second round of the playoffs, where younger teams led by rising superstars (like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) awaited.
AdvertisementAdvertisementHe could still have been a fantastic third option in Los Angeles, though the Lakers had trouble building a contending-level defense around Dončić, James and Reaves. It appears we will never see what that trio could have accomplished when healthy — and when paired with an elite rim runner and/or a two-way wing — but it was too difficult to build around James' $52.6 million salary, especially if he still was going to be serving as a third option.
Now, he has his choice of destinations, so long as he accepts a pay cut, and it appears he is willing to do so. The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, all for obvious reasons, have emerged as his most likely landing spots, according to Charania.
He will be great wherever he lands, assuming he stays healthy, and he can help his next team pursue a championship, even at 42 years old, in his tireless pursuit of equaling Michael Jordan's six titles (really, the only thing he has left to accomplish in this league).
James stands at four rings as it is, because he only won the one title in L.A., the same number of championships he delivered in Cleveland and one less than he did over a brilliant four-year stretch in Miami — the peak of one of the greatest careers in history.
AdvertisementAdvertisementHe is past his prime now. That he can still contribute at the level he did this past season — as an All-Star for the 22nd time — is beyond remarkable. That he won't be continuing to do it in L.A. is somewhat of a bummer, considering how good he had become at playing off Dončić and Reaves. But he will have to ply his trade now as a sidekick to Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Donovan Mitchell, which will be fascinating to watch.
Unlike past destinations, James will not be leaving the Lakers in shambles. These are not the 2011 Cavaliers, the 2015 Heat or the 2019 Cavs. They have Dončić and Reaves, both entering their primes, and now — with James' hefty salary off the books — they have the financial flexibility to chase two-way contributors for their star duo, much like how the Dallas Mavericks built a team that reached the 2024 NBA Finals around Dončić and Kyrie Irving.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThere is still much work to be done in L.A., but that is no longer James' problem. Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes, the names first bandied about at the start of free agency, according to insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, do not inspire confidence.
The question, then, again: Was James' tenure on the Lakers a success? He delivered the one title, same as Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, and he owed the city no more than that. He will not go down alongside Magic Johnson or Kobe Bryant as gods of the franchise. Nor does he belong on the same tier as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Shaquille O'Neal, two more Hall of Famers who each won multiple championships with the Lakers.
But LeBron James is a Lakers Legend, no doubt.
It is Dončić's era now as the standard-bearer of this storied franchise. And James' act is a tough one to follow, just as Bryant's was before him, or Magic's was before him, and so on. These are the Lakers, cycling through superstars, and there is a new one atop the bill.
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.'
