Go ahead and set them LeBron James returns to Cavaliers (again) rumors to rest for now. Imagine instead that James stays in California. However, not as a return to the Lakers or with the Crosstown Clippers.
The latest buzz has LeBron teaming up with one of his former rivals, Steph Curry, as a member of the Golden State Warriors.
10 years after superstar Kevin Durant joined an already stacked Warriors team, LBJ might be able to do the same.
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James, of course, is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and his basketball future is the hottest topic outside of the NBA Finals.
Retirement is a possibility, although based on his play this past season at age 41 (21 points, 6 boards and 7 assists per game) LeBron is unlikely to retire.
The idea of LeBron playing a 24th NBA season seems almost certain at this point. He is healthy and still playing at a high level. James is a four-time league MVP and is considered the most attractive free agent on the market for teams with championship aspirations.
Pairing an aging but still very effective Curry and defensive mastermind Draymond Green with James would be a dream scenario for a Warriors team whose superstars are in the twilight of their Hall of Fame careers.
At the same time, it would be a nightmare for the rest of the NBA.
According to a report from NBC Sports Bay Area earlier this week, Golden State’s sweet dreams may soon come true.
“I know it seems crazy, but at least there’s curiosity on both sides. This wouldn’t even be a conversation five or six years ago, and it might not happen now, but there’s enough there that we shouldn’t ignore the possibility,” said a well-connected league source. NBC Sports Bay Area. “It’s mostly up to LeBron.”
That league source is far from alone in their thinking. Polymarket currently has the Warriors as third most likely team to field James during the 2026-27 campaign if, as expected, he forgoes retirement.
Polymarket gives Golden State a 9% chance of landing LBJ, just two percentage points behind the New York Knicks. A return to the Lakers is the clear favorite with 58%. Cleveland, meanwhile, is a surprising fourth at just 6%.
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Because the Lakers own James’ “Bird Rights,” they can offer him more than any other team. A max contract from LA would pay James more than $55 million per season. By comparison, most contending teams have little more to offer than the mid-level exception, which is around $15 million.
Having a significantly higher salary, being with his family in Los Angeles and the upward arrow of the Lakers are all reasons why a return to the Lakers is the current odds-on favorite.
Then again, James is a billionaire, so the idea of teaming up with a generational talent like Curry while still living within driving distance of Los Angeles and playing for a contending team might be a more serious possibility than the odds markets think.
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