Udonis Haslem: You Got A Better Chance Of Wrestling An Alligator Than Getting LeBron James To Leave Lakers

Former NBA player Udonis Haslem said on ESPN’s “Get Up” that LeBron James will not leave the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. 

Haslem said, “You got a better chance of wrestling an alligator than getting Bron to leave LA.”

LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason by declining his 2024-25 player option.

The leading scorer in NBA history is expected to decline his player option and re-sign with the Lakers. 

LeBron appeared in 71 games for the Lakers this season. The NBA icon 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. 

The Denver Nuggets beat the Lakers in the first round of this year’s playoffs in five games. Los Angeles fired Darvin Ham as head coach after its season ended. 

LeBron, who turns 40 in December, is expected to play up to two more NBA seasons.

In their coaching search, the Lakers have been linked to JJ Redick, Sam Cassell, James Borrego, David Adelman, Micah Nori and Chris Quinn. Most individuals in the NBA expect the Lakers to hire Redick, who is podcast partners with LeBron.

Los Angeles is seeking a coach who will command the locker room, hold players accountable, tirelessly gameplan and provide a level of structure. 

LeBron joined the Lakers in the offseason of 2018. He guided the franchise to the 2020 championship over the Miami Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble. 

Arguably the greatest player of all time, LeBron is a four-time MVP, a four-time Finals MVP and a four-time champion.

The King is the only player in NBA history to rank top-five all-time in points and assists, the only player to win three Finals MVPs with three different teams, the only player with 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 career assists and the only player to score 40,000 points. 

LeBron has career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers.