LeBron James may come with a surprising plus-one not named Bronny

LeBron James. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

LeBron may come with a surprising plus-one not named Bronny

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Jul 13, 2026 1:21 PM ET

Every single time LeBron James has joined a new team, his signature has come with some conditions.

He likes to have a say in roster-building and surround himself with familiar faces and people he can trust, and teams usually cave to those demands. That's why it's only fitting that he takes the same approach to what will most likely be the final deal of his career, bringing in some baggage with him.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Kevin Love will most likely follow his former teammate to his next destination.

Kevin Love might follow LeBron James to his new team

"I wouldn't be surprised if Kevin Love is considered as a plus 1 to any team that acquires LeBron James," Fischer said on a livestream.

There was a time when James and Love didn't seem to be on the same page, with both of them exchanging passive-aggressive swipes. Now, it looks like that's all water under the bridge.

Love and James won a championship together in Cleveland, and this isn't the first time this offseason that they've been tangled up in rumors. ESPN insider Marc Spears had a similar report before the start of free agency.

"I'm hearing that [LeBron's] likely coming back [to the Lakers]. … Kevin Love could likely be joining the Lakers too," Spears said on ESPN's "NBA Today."

"I'm hearing that [LeBron's] likely coming back [to the Lakers]. ... Kevin Love could likely be joining the Lakers too."@MarcJSpears gives some insight on what could be next for LeBron pic.twitter.com/EV1Qwqiixf
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 17, 2026

While James has now informed the Lakers that he won't return, the desire to reunite with Love might still be there. Of course, Love is no longer the player he used to be. He'll probably have a minimal impact on the court, though he can be a serviceable mentor and leader in the locker room.

He's a free agent after his deal with the Utah Jazz expired, and it looks like he'll be a part of James' farewell tour, regardless of how much he can still play.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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