Before the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks last night at Madison Square Garden, LeBron James declined to explain what his cryptic hourglass tweet meant.
“No,” LeBron said when asked if he’d like to clarify his tweet.
LeBron also said “no” when asked if he knows what he’s going to do with his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers. The NBA legend is making $47.6 million this season. He has a player option worth $51.4 million for next season. If LeBron declines his player option, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
KTLA sports anchor and reporter David Pingalore tweeted that the Lakers were looking to trade LeBron. Pingalore had sources who were correct about LeBron going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 and Kawhi Leonard signing with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019.
However, LeBron’s agent (Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group) told Brian Windhorst of ESPN that the Lakers and LeBron are not looking to part ways this season.
“LeBron won’t be traded, Paul said. “And we aren’t asking to be.”
The Lakers are 26-25. They are in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. If the season ended today, LeBron and Co. would be in the play-in tournament for the third time in four years.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
LeBron is averaging 24.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks this season while shooting 52.0% from the field, 39.8% from 3 and 72.8% from the free-throw line. He’s still one of the top basketball players in the world despite being the oldest player (39) in the NBA.
LeBron joined the Lakers in the summer of 2018 as an unrestricted free agent. He guided LAL to the 2020 championship over the Miami Heat in six games at the Walt Disney World bubble. LeBron is averaging 27.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks with the Lakers.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Lakers have not spoken to LeBron’s camp about his future plans.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron wants to play with his son, Bronny, in the NBA. Bronny is eligible for the 2024 draft. LeBron can decline his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers and sign with the team Bronny gets drafted by.
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