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LeBron James Stays Silent on Next Team but Calls Decision Fun

Pat Riley and Giannis Antetokounmpo have both said publicly they want James to join the Miami Heat.

LeBron James during Paris 2024 Olympic Games
LeBron James during Paris 2024 Olympic Games      Lebron James    Clément Bardot / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
By Free News Press Editorial Team
Published July 17, 2026 at 1:48 PM PDT

LeBron James is a free agent and not talking. The NBA's all-time scoring leader spoke Thursday but left reporters without an answer on where he plans to play next season, saying only that the decision will be fun.

According to ESPN, James remained undecided about his next team as of Thursday. He gave no timeline and named no destination.

Meanwhile, two prominent figures in Miami made their preferences clear. Heat president Pat Riley and star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo both said they would love to see James come to Miami. Antetokounmpo joined the Heat this offseason, and the prospect of pairing him with James has generated significant attention around the league.

Riley built the Heat teams that James led to two NBA championships during his first Miami stint, from 2010 to 2014. James left for Cleveland after that run and later won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. He spent last season with the Lakers before entering free agency.

The combination of Riley's recruiting history, the presence of Antetokounmpo, and the Heat's organizational reputation makes Miami one of the more discussed landing spots. But James has not confirmed interest in any specific team. His comments Thursday offered little beyond the suggestion that fans should stay tuned.

No timetable has been set for an announcement.

Los Angeles Lakers @ Cleveland Cavaliers, March 21, 2022
Los Angeles Lakers @ Cleveland Cavaliers, March 2…      Lebron James    Erik Drost / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)