LeBron James gets surprising interest from a new NBA team after leaving the Lakers
There’s exciting news about where LeBron James might play next in the NBA, and it includes a surprising new team! LeBron recently announced he’s leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after nearly 10 years with them, during which he won the 2020 NBA Championship in the Bubble. Before the Lakers, he played for his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, reaching the NBA Finals four times in a row with different squads.
His biggest moment came in 2016, when he led an amazing comeback from a 3-1 deficit against Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors—a team that had set a record with 73 wins that season. No other team had ever come back from 3-1 down in the Finals before, so LeBron’s feat was a huge highlight of his career. The Warriors ended up being big rivals for him, beating him in the other three Finals he made, including a sweep in 2018 during his best playoff run.
For a while, people thought his next team would either be the Cavaliers again or the Warriors, but now there’s a surprise contender joining the race: the Philadelphia 76ers. NBA insider Shams Charania shared on Sports Centre that the Sixers are seriously trying to sign LeBron. He also mentioned there might be one or two other teams in the mix soon. If those teams are still Cleveland and Golden State, then the 76ers have become a third unexpected choice.
The Cavs were recently knocked out of the playoffs by the New York Knicks, who won the championship, while the 76ers pulled off their own incredible comeback, rallying from 3-1 down against the Boston Celtics in the first round. The Warriors missed the playoffs altogether, raising questions about their coach Steve Kerr’s future, but he’s since renewed his contract.
Another team to watch is the Miami Heat, where LeBron played before the Lakers and Cavaliers and won two of his four championships. The Heat also just signed former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, which could make their lineup very tempting for LeBron.
Right now, it’s still a mystery where LeBron, now 41, will go next. The 76ers weren’t seen as a top choice before, so their strong interest is a real surprise. No matter where he ends up, it’s likely to be the final stop in an amazing career that is already remembered as one of the greatest in NBA history.