LeBron James Was Interested in Joining Dallas Mavericks Before Picking Up 2025-26 Player Option With Los Angeles Lakers

NBA legend LeBron James was interested in joining the Dallas Mavericks before he picked up his 2025-26 player option with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic.

James will make $52.6 million next season in the final year of his contract. The four-time MVP played with Kyrie Irving on the Cleveland Cavaliers and Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell on the Lakers.

Dallas head coach Jason Kidd was also an assistant coach on Los Angeles’ 2020 title team.

“While he opted in to the final year of his contract and does not appear to be an imminent trade candidate, as our Joe Vardon and Dan Woike reported here, that doesn’t necessarily mean returning to the Los Angeles Lakers on a one-year deal was at the top of his wish list,” Hollinger wrote. “In particular, the whispers about him having eyes for Dallas — a place where he could have teamed up with former teammates Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving and young phenom Cooper Flagg — before opting into his deal were hard to ignore.”

LeBron James will begin next season on the Lakers, who have Luka Doncic and LeBron’s son, Bronny James.

If Los Angeles struggles next season, LeBron can always request a trade and get moved since he has a no-trade clause in his contract.

The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs despite having LeBron and Doncic. Los Angeles has added Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart this offseason.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks missed the playoffs last season after making the NBA Finals in 2024. Flagg and Russell are the newcomers on the team.

Arguably the best player in NBA history, LeBron could retire after next season. While it would have been neat to see LeBron play with Irving and Davis again, all signs point toward The King retiring with the Lakers.

LeBron turns 41 in December. He made the All-NBA Second Team and finished sixth in MVP voting last season despite being the oldest active player in the league.