LeBron James ‘Staying Clear’ From Lakers Coaching Search

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, LeBron James is “staying clear” from the Los Angeles Lakers coaching search. 

LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason by declining his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers worth $51.4 million. 

“LeBron James is staying clear from this coaching search…”

– @ShamsCharania on the #Lakers pic.twitter.com/pQJpYkomkc

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 11, 2024

The Lakers tried to hire UConn head coach Dan Hurley by offering him a six-year, $70 million contract. Hurley turned down Los Angeles’ offer, so now the Lakers will pivot back to JJ Redick, James Borrego, Sam Cassell and David Adelman. 

Redick and LeBron co-host the “Mind The Game” podcast. Most people assumed the Lakers would hire Redick, who is calling the NBA Finals for ESPN. However, Los Angeles hasn’t offered Redick a deal. 

LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks for the Lakers this season in 71 games while shooting 54.0% from the field, 41.0% from beyond the arc and 75.0% from the free-throw line. Despite being the oldest player in the NBA, he’s still an elite performer. 

The Lakers went 47-35 in the regular season. They lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs in five games.

Denver also swept Los Angeles in the 2023 conference finals. 

The Lakers fired Darvin Ham as their head coach after two seasons. Ham went 90-74 in the regular season and 9-12 in the postseason.

LeBron, 39, is expected to play only one or two more NBA seasons. Even though the Lakers are not title contenders, it doesn’t appear The King will leave LA. 

LeBron is a four-time MVP, a four-time Finals MVP and a four-time champion. He’s arguably the greatest player in NBA history. 

A future first-ballot Hall of Famer, 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, Miami Heat and Lakers. 

LeBron 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.