The agent for LeBron James indicated nearly half the teams in the NBA are interested in signing the league’s all-time leading scorer and the decision won’t be about money.
Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said he spoke with “12 to 14” teams about James after NBA free agency negotiations officially began during an episode of The Ringer’s “Game Over” podcast featuring Paul and former ESPN commentator Max Kellerman released on Wednesday, July 1. Paul also confirmed the Golden State Warriors were one of the teams to contact him regarding James, but remained non-committal about any favorites to land his 41-year-old client.
James announced on Tuesday he plans to play elsewhere next season after spending the past eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers. Paul revealed negotiations with the Lakers never reached the point where the team’s front office made a formal contract offer to James.
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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with AJ Dybantsa after h is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.
(Arturo Holmes, Getty Images)
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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with AJ Dybantsa after he is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.
(Arturo Holmes, Getty Images)
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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
AJ Dybantsa is drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.
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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.
(Arturo Holmes, Getty Images)
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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Cameron Boozer awaits the start of Round One.
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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Caleb Wilson poses with family prior to Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center.
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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Chris Cenac Jr. poses for a photo with Kelvin Sampson prior to Round One.
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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
Mikel Brown Jr. awaits the start of Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center.
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Every player selected in the NBA Draft 2026 first round in photos
An interior view of Barclays Center prior to Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23, 2026 in New York City.
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LEBRON JAMES: Where will he play after Lakers exit? Five potential landing spots
“There didn’t need to be one,” Paul told Kellerman. “They wanted to bring him back, obviously, but there didn’t need to be one and I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time.”
Paul explained that James began the NBA offseason telling Paul he was “80%” about a return to the Lakers, but his thinking progressively changed even though remaining with the franchise would have netted James his biggest potential payday.
“I don’t believe that there was anything that took place,” Paul said about James’ shift in mindset. “… I think you get to a place where in your mind, you start to decide, OK, it’s time for me to move on elsewhere.”
Paul reiterated James is in search of “complete happiness” and money won’t dictate his potential landing spot for the first time in his career. Paul would not put a timeline on when James might decide on his next team.
“His legacy is etched in stone,” Paul said, “but if you can find humility and peace and still be competitive and give yourself the chance at the possibility of winning, that is complete happiness. That’s the Holy Grail. That’s all you can ask for.”
“I think we’ll look at all situations,” Paul added, “and ultimately he’ll make the best decision for him.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James agent: 12-14 teams interested to start NBA free agency
