Should I not be reading into this?

[LakerLegend]

How is this not tampering?

[The Laker Kid]

LeBorn is like a fart that lingers.

Basically an old fart.

[SlimShady83]

I'm sure ESPN is writing a front page story about this as we speak.

I mean, if LeBron wants to sign to Denver for the vet minimum next year, I wouldn't be mad. Just don't trade anyone of value, please.

You can have him.

You can have LeBronny right now, even for free, we're all done with them

[Lunartic]

I'm a LeBron detractor but Bron + Jokic and decent cast is the favorite to win it all.

Current washed Bron would be the best player Jokic has ever played with. Which is sad.

[Ruma85]

I'm a LeBron detractor but Bron + Jokic and decent cast is the favorite to win it all.

Current washed Bron would be the best player Jokic has ever played with. Which is sad.

Would be fascinating to watch them, even at this age of 41.

[bkkrh]

https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/rumors/2025/07/27/lebron-james-meets-with-nikola-jokics-agent-in-france/85394280007/

He is not only Jokic´s agent. He is the owner of BeoBasket.

The company has been recognized as the agency which holds record in number of players signed in EuroLeague, EuroCup and all top European national competitions, including the most important and highest paid deals in Europe. Additionally, in partnership with Excel Sports Management,they are a European agency with highest number of players in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He´s also the agent of Saric, Zubac, Bitadze and so on. I´d say it makes sense from Lebron´s side to connect with the biggest European agent in the last 25 years unrelated to him being also the manager of Jokic.

[JM00n69]

I'm a LeBron detractor but Bron + Jokic and decent cast is the favorite to win it all.

Current washed Bron would be the best player Jokic has ever played with. Which is sad.

Would be fascinating to watch them, even at this age of 41.

It would be interesting to see how they'd play together. Only problem is that LBJ would bring the whole circus with him. Den finally has a deep roster and it goes against the style. New HC in Adelman who's been an assistant for ages with DEN and did really well after Malone got sacked, don't really need that vibe this year. If he wants to get a Westbrook deal year after this to chase a ring sure.

[tsherkin]

Too old to matter is a bit of a stretch. I know people want this to be true but it simply isn’t. It’s like we’re rewriting the entirety of last season like people don’t remember what he actually looked like. He still is a very good player

I’m sure no team would need a 25/9/6 playoff player

Also he did that on pretty good defense in the second half of the season

its not a stretch.

you know his +/-
you know his +/- compared to his teammates
you know the lakers have been mostly 3rd or 4th in the last few years
you know how the nba is trending and that the lakers aren't there

and you know this is lebron james and that for HIM these kinds of stats have always mattered because they reflect his affect on a game

he's a freight train no matter how old he is so he'll always pile numbers

don't tell me you're sitting there and not wondering "well the numbers look ok,,,so wtf is wrong"
hes a "playoff player" whos been getting bounced real early

You talking about the guy who had the 3rd highest BPM in the 2025 playoffs, son?

The main thing with him is that he can't sustain high-level two-way play, and that he can't really elevate his scoring in the way he used to. He's a little more beholden to his 3pt shooting now, as well, which changes the nature and reliability of his impact. It's still insanely impressive what he's doing, but there's only so much he can do at this point in his career.

[Hornet Mania]

I'm someone who no longer believes in Lebron as a high-level option on a contender.

But... Lebron would murder in a smaller role. Even as he loses mobility, his ability to read the game, and apply what athleticism he has left (massive strength, very good straight line speed, still borderline elite run-and-jump) is ridiculous. Put him on a team where other star players are creating the main advantages, and he can kill you in the margins.

I never expect a 40-year-old to be a healthy playoff player, though. Lebron is an anomaly, but I still start with the assumption he'll break down over the season.

That's why it's a shame Lebron is hellbent on getting paid top dollar until the day he retires. I get it from a financial perspective, I really do (and that's before even considering how mad the union would be if he set that precedent for aging but still useful superstars), but it completely forecloses the scenario you outlined above.

I hoped to see Lebron in a smaller role on a contender teaching the young bucks how it's done as he aged but I'm afraid we're never going to get that in reality.

[bisme37]

Are Lakers fans worried about a season of drama instead of basketball? Seems like the Lakers are eager to move on from Bron and go Full Luka, and Bron is eager to paint his own narrative and make sure it's a front page story. I don't really see it not being a distraction as the relationship likely continues to deteriorate.

[KyRo23]

its not a stretch.

you know his +/-
you know his +/- compared to his teammates
you know the lakers have been mostly 3rd or 4th in the last few years
you know how the nba is trending and that the lakers aren't there

and you know this is lebron james and that for HIM these kinds of stats have always mattered because they reflect his affect on a game

he's a freight train no matter how old he is so he'll always pile numbers

don't tell me you're sitting there and not wondering "well the numbers look ok,,,so wtf is wrong"
hes a "playoff player" whos been getting bounced real early

You talking about the guy who had the 3rd highest BPM in the 2025 playoffs, son?

The main thing with him is that he can't sustain high-level two-way play, and that he can't really elevate his scoring in the way he used to. He's a little more beholden to his 3pt shooting now, as well, which changes the nature and reliability of his impact. It's still insanely impressive what he's doing, but there's only so much he can do at this point in his career.

I mean there’s not a ton of players who are maintaining an elite two way game. I feel people are comparing now LeBron to past LeBron which of course is a wild difference, but in terms of where he stands as a second option, he is still elite

Again, I don’t think a lot of people here paid much attention to the second half of the season and his play. He was maintaining a pretty good two way game and it showed. Everyone talks about how good DFS was on defense, but lebrons defense looked better

[tsherkin]

I mean there’s not a ton of players who are maintaining an elite two way game. I feel people are comparing now LeBron to past LeBron which of course is a wild difference, but in terms of where he stands as a second option, he is still elite

No doubt, and again, I think Lebron's doing great not just for his age, but in general. But he isn't the same level of player he used to be, and the nature of the changes to his offensive game which have permitted him to be this don't permit him to elevate his scoring the way he used to in days of yore, was my point. And you can sort of EITHER have strong D or stronger O from him on anything like a regular basis. Trying to do both burns him out and makes him much more vulnerable to injury.

Lebron's great, and is literally the best player ever for longevity, and at his specific age, and is still objectively a high-level player independent of those concerns. He just has a lower ceiling than he used to, which changes his overall value, is all.

[YogurtProducer]

lol at people acting like LeBron isn’t still a damn good player.

[Lalouie]

You talking about the guy who had the 3rd highest BPM in the 2025 playoffs, son?

The main thing with him is that he can't sustain high-level two-way play, and that he can't really elevate his scoring in the way he used to. He's a little more beholden to his 3pt shooting now, as well, which changes the nature and reliability of his impact. It's still insanely impressive what he's doing, but there's only so much he can do at this point in his career.

I mean there’s not a ton of players who are maintaining an elite two way game. I feel people are comparing now LeBron to past LeBron which of course is a wild difference, but in terms of where he stands as a second option, he is still elite

Again, I don’t think a lot of people here paid much attention to the second half of the season and his play. He was maintaining a pretty good two way game and it showed. Everyone talks about how good DFS was on defense, but lebrons defense looked better

here's the built in prob with saying "he's still elite". it carries expectations lebron can no longer fulfill.

this whole convo is over a pic lebron made sure everyone is seeing

[Rauxcee]

Props to LeBron on the longevity of his career with janky feet like that.

[the_process]

Just trade LeBron to Dallas already.

Yes, it has to be a six for one; LA can find a third to take a couple of the cheaper salaries. And Dallas can sign a bunch of vet mins to fill out the roster and still be under the 2nd apron.

[lambchop]

Serbian news outlets already spoke about this a while back. It's primarily about Jokic's team "Joker Sombor" joining the Euroleague soon and needing investors, plus potential players. Having LBJ and Bronny on the team would guarantee a nice cash flow to the team. We'll see how it all plays out.