LeBron James ' agent Rich Paul has revealed the 41-year-old forward's 2026 free agency was complicated by the New York Knicks ' championship.
LeBron was ready to be the final piece of the puzzle to help the Knicks become NBA Champions.
However, the franchise achieving that goal led by Jalen Brunson in the 2025-26 season threw a wrench into what Rich Paul claims were already-set plans.
On the latest episode of Rich Paul's Game Over podcast with Max Kellerman, the Klutch Sports CEO revealed James would've likely already made his free agency decision and joined the franchise if they hadn't just won the 2026 title.
"If the Knicks hadn't won, there would be no board. He'd be going to the Knicks…. Jalen Brunson would literally have to pick up the phone and just say, 'Hey man, there's no issue with me.' They (Knicks) have checked in."
If LeBron joined the Knicks in the summer after they won a title, he'd open himself up to parallels to Kevin Durant 's decision to join the 73-9 Warriors .
At least Durant joined a team that lost the Finals; LeBron joining the Knicks now would appear worse since they're already defending champions.
The odds that James chooses the reigning champions seem slim, given how poor the optics might be for his legacy. If he could play a role in New York's first title since 1973, the project would carry a lot more appeal.
Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
Joining now would make even a 2027 title win feel odd, as many would claim he jumped on their bandwagon after they proved they can win a title.
There are other seemingly impossible destinations on James' whiteboard, including his bitter rivals, the Boston Celtics . The Knicks are more plausible than that, but it's hard to say they should at this point.
Winning another title in Cleveland , helping the Warriors come from outside the playoffs to a championship, or even finishing his story in Miami would all be more appealing projects right now, primarily because James can actively change their fortunes. He can't do that in New York.
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