LeBron James' agent Rich Paul says pursuit of 'complete happiness' led to star deciding to leave Lakers
Yahoo Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- LeBron James has decided to leave the Los Angeles Lakers, marking the end of his era with the franchise, with both sides exchanging positive and respectful messages about the split.
- James did not disclose specific reasons for his departure, but his agent Rich Paul revealed that James initially leaned toward returning to the Lakers before gradually deciding against it during the offseason.
- Despite the Lakers' interest in re-signing him, no formal negotiations took place after James made his decision known, as Paul wanted to avoid wasting time.
- James is prioritizing "complete happiness" and the pursuit of another championship over financial considerations in choosing his next team, though he is not expected to take a zero-dollar contract.
- At 41, James remains a highly productive player, averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds last season, and is expected to attract significant interest on the free-agent market.
