LeBron James has officially said goodbye to the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons in purple and gold. The four-time NBA champion is heading elsewhere for his 24th NBA season, bringing one of the most significant eras in franchise history to a close.
James’ agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, informed ESPN that the Lakers should move forward with their offseason plans without the future Hall of Famer, who has elected to enter free agency at age 41.
The announcement immediately sent shockwaves throughout the NBA.
While rumors surrounding James’ future had been building for weeks, many still expected the veteran superstar to finish his career in Los Angeles. Instead, James will continue his career elsewhere as free agency officially begins.
The Lakers star eventually addressed the news himself on social media.
“No, THANK YOU! Truly a honor to wear the (purple and gold) while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint,” James wrote on X.
James arrived in Los Angeles during the summer of 2018 and spent eight seasons with the organization, the longest stint of his NBA career. During that time, he helped deliver the franchise’s 17th championship during the 2020 season while also becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Tributes quickly began pouring in from around the basketball world following his departure.
Among those to publicly thank James was Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, who reflected on his impact both on and off the court.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” Buss wrote. “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 of the Laker family.”
READ MORE: Draymond Green Sacrifice Could Lead Warriors’ Dream Team