LeBron James Hasn’t Had Conversations With Lakers About Coaching Search

According to NBA insider Dave McMenamin of ESPN, LeBron James hasn’t had conversations with the Los Angeles Lakers about their coaching search. 

LeBron has made it known that he is staying out of the Lakers’ coaching search.

James, through his representatives, has made it clear that the Lakers should do what is best for the organization and is mindful and respectful that the Lakers need to make a decision on a coach that will be with the team beyond his playing career. https://t.co/FmWm9iSlGk

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 6, 2024

LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason by declining his 2024-25 player option worth $51.4 million. The leading scorer in NBA history is expected to remain with the Lakers. 

Los Angeles is targeting UConn head coach Dan Hurley. The franchise has also been heavily linked to JJ Redick, who co-hosts the “Mind The Game” podcast with LeBron. 

A 20-time All-Star, LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks 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. 

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.

It sounds like Los Angeles will hire Hurley or Redick. The hire is more about Anthony Davis, who is under contract for several more years.

LeBron, 39, is expected to play only one or two more NBA seasons. 

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.