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LeBron James' free agency has taken center stage in the sports world, with the 41-year-old expected to choose a new team soon.
James became a free agent for the first time in eight years this Summer, and he is taking his time to decide where he will play next season. In the past, James has been quicker to make a free agency decision, but this free agency for him comes with a different set of priorities than past decisions.
The entire NBA is waiting to see which team James will choose, and that even includes commissioner Adam Silver. There appear to be five teams in the mix to sign James, but no one truly knows where he will sign to play in his 24th NBA season.
Marquee NBA free agencies rarely last this far into the offseason, making James' search for a new team already different. Here's a breakdown of when James may make his decision.
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When does LeBron James have to make a decision?
LeBron James does not have a hard deadline on the schedule for him to make a decision. The 23-year veteran can wait as long as he'd like to decide where he wants to play next, especially now that he's the only notable free agent remaining on the market.
James will have to give his new team a chance to prepare for the season by clearing necessary cap space or filling out the roster, but there is still plenty of time for those moves.
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When will LeBron James make a decision?
It's unclear exactly when James will sign with a new team, but it appears as though he will decide any day now. With the World Cup over, James is now the focal point of sports discussion, which may or may not accelerate his decision-making process.
James has already passed the date at which he made his past three free agency decisions, making this the longest he's ever been a free agent.
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LeBron James previous free agency decisions
James has been a free agent three other times, choosing to sign with the Miami Heat in 2010, Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 and Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. James took a little over a week to sign with those first two teams, while he signed with the Lakers immediately.
James has already well surpassed his longest single free agency stint, as he has been a free agent this year for longer than in any of his previous three free agencies combined.
Here's the date on which James made his previous decision:
- Heat: July 8, 2010
- Cavaliers: July 11, 2014
- Lakers: July 1, 2018
When does 2026-27 NBA season start?
The NBA hasn't released its schedule for the 2026-27 season, as Adam Silver said the league is waiting for James to make a decision before completing the schedule. Still, next season will likely begin around the same time as it did in years past.
The 2025-26 season opened on Tuesday, October 21, while the 2024-25 season began on Tuesday, October 22. Based on those two dates, the most likely start date for the 2026-27 NBA season is Tuesday, October 20, with the New York Knicks expected to raise their banner on opening night.
