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Everyone across the NBA is wondering why it is taking so long for LeBron James to choose which team he will join in free agency. Nothing has seemingly changed as far as the teams considered to be in the running for him -- the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors are still thought to be the frontrunners.
It is now a full three weeks into the league's official free agency period. The Los Angeles Lakers were informed on June 30 that James would not be re-signing with them, and everyone has been waiting for some sort of announcement about what's next for him. He will almost certainly not retire, and this coming season, which will be his 24th, may not be his last.
On the latest episode of his podcast "Game Over," which he co-hosts with Max Kellerman, Rich Paul, James' longtime agent and close friend, said the superstar is on his own timeline, per ESPN.
"We're not going to be rushed," Paul said. "We're not going to be rushed. It's his choice to make and when he makes the choice, he'll make it."
Paul has also let teams know that they need to just be patient.
"There's been several people to call and say, 'Hey, Rich, is there anything more we should be doing? We could be doing?'" Paul said. "And my answer is, 'No. We don't need you to go above and beyond about anything. We understand it. It's clear. All the messages have been sent.'"
Plenty of fans, including those who don't like James, feel the future Hall of Famer may be dragging out the process in order to control the news cycle and gobble up headlines and attention. It is something Paul denied.
"I think it's important for people to understand: We're not making this about attention and a spectacle," Paul said. "It's not about a 'Decision' or anything like that. He has a choice to make. He has a business choice to make. We're not going to sit here and decide or allow someone else to decide when he makes that decision. … It's a business choice that he's making. And I think as an athlete, why is it that an athlete has to rush his choice?"
Paul said on a previous episode of the podcast that James is looking for "complete happiness" at his next NBA stop.
The 41-year-old played eight seasons with the Lakers and brought them their most recent NBA championship, which was his fourth, during his second season with them. Throughout his tenure with the storied franchise, he averaged 25.9 points on 51.3% field-goal shooting, 7.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists a game, and he led the league in assist average during the 2019-20 campaign.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Rich Paul on LeBron James: 'We're not going to be rushed'
