Report: Rich Paul Told Lakers LeBron James Would Be At Cavaliers-Celtics Game

LeBron and his wife, Savannah, were in Cleveland for Mother’s Day. 

“I have been told that the reason LeBron was in Cleveland was because he and Savannah were there for Mother’s Day, seeing their mothers,” Windhorst said. “And Rich Paul, who was also at the game and represents several Cavaliers, called the Lakers and said, ‘Just so you know, LeBron is going to be coming to the game tonight.’ So that they weren’t surprised.”

LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he declines his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers. Some people think the leading scorer in NBA history went to the Cavaliers game to pressure the Lakers to hire the right coach and improve the roster.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, LeBron is expected to return to the Lakers. Charania also reports that the Lakers have interest in drafting Bronny James. 

LeBron, who turns 40 in December, is expected to play up to two more NBA seasons. He has a $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season.

Two more seasons would take LeBron through the 2026 All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.

LeBron appeared in 71 games for the Lakers this season. The four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists while shooting 54.0% from the field, 41.0% from beyond the arc and 75.0% from the free-throw line. 

LeBron joined the Lakers in the summer of 2018 after playing for the Cavaliers from 2014-15 to 2017-18.

The Lakers missed the playoffs in 2019, won the title in 2020, lost in the first round of the 2021 playoffs, missed the playoffs in 2022, lost in the conference finals in 2023 and lost in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. 

LeBron is arguably the greatest player in NBA history. The King has career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists with the Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers.