While Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James hasn't made his regular-season debut, there are still people wondering where he will be in 2026-27, amidst his final season under contract, including NBA insider Zach Lowe. Most of the NBA world has moved on from speculating about retirement after this season, citing a potential farewell tour —but will it be with the Lakers, the Golden State Warriors, or the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Would LeBron consider heading home for a third stint with the Cavaliers? Could he add a new chapter to the end of the Warriors' dynasty? Lowe revealed what he's been hearing through the NBA's proverbial grapevine, looking ahead to James' 2026-27 season, he said, per The Zach Lowe Show.
“Now, what happens after this season? I know people with the Cavs who are looking around like, ‘You want to do a retirement tour?’ I know people with the Warriors are looking around like, ‘Hey, you want to fulfill that dream over here? Dallas? That was a rumor,” Lowe said. “We’ll see what happens.”
How James and the Lakers do this season could dictate whether he stays or not. It's difficult to gauge at this stage of the regular season, where, for the first time throughout his 23-year NBA career, LeBron hasn't played a game for a team that has nine games in. Still, without James, the Lakers are 7-2 with the second-best record in the Western Conference.
The same could be said about head coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors, who are approaching a two-year window with the additions of Jimmy Butler and Al Horford to complement their core of All-Star Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jonathan Kuminga. At the same time, after finishing the 2024-25 regular season with the best record in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers are also title contenders.
Luka Doncic warns the NBA amid the Lakers' winning streak
Veteran Luka Doncic led the shorthanded Lakers to an impressive 118-116 win against the Spurs. Without starters LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Doncic's 35-point performance led the Lakers to victory. He also finished with 13 assists, nine rebounds, and five steals, as his near-triple-double in Wednesday's win is consistent with his near-triple-double averages over a five-game sample.
Doncic is averaging 40.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 9.2 assists in his first full season with the Lakers. Building on last year's second-round playoff exit, the Lakers have kept themselves afloat in a competitive Western Conference despite injuries to their starters, including Doncic, who's missed four games due to a left finger sprain.
Without Austin Reaves, ruled out with a groin strain, Doncic and the Lakers will look to extend their winning streak to six.
