Source: Lakers’ LeBron James ‘Will Never Play for Clippers,’ Was Working Out at Klutch Sports Group Office, Which Uses Old Clippers Facility

NBA legend LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers posted photos of himself working out on his Instagram account on Thursday. The photos went viral because there were Los Angeles Clippers logos behind him.

Some people began to speculate that LeBron was going to request a trade from the Lakers to the Clippers or he was being passive-aggressive toward the purple and gold franchise.

However, neither is true.

“LeBron was working out at a Klutch Sports Group office,” an NBA source told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “Klutch uses the Clippers’ old facility in Playa Vista. This is a non-story. People need to stop reading into everything LeBron does. Plus, LeBron will never play for the Clippers. He has said that many times to people in his circle.”

If LeBron wanted to leave the Lakers, he wouldn’t have picked up his player option for next season. Yes, his agent, Rich Paul, issued a cryptic statement to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, but that statement was LeBron’s way of putting pressure on Los Angeles exec Rob Pelinka to improve the roster around him and Luka Dončić, sources said.

After Paul’s statement came out, the Lakers signed Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart. Dončić, who will sign an extension with Los Angeles this weekend, recruited Ayton and Smart, while Austin Reaves recruited LaRavia, sources said.

LeBron will play next season with the Lakers. There will be no trade request or buyout. The leading scorer in NBA history will become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason of 2026 for the first time since 2018.

Some believe LeBron could retire. Others think he could play until his second son, Bryce James, comes to the NBA.

A future Hall of Famer, LeBron has been with the Lakers since 2018. He guided the franchise to the 2020 championship against the Miami Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble.