It’s been more than 15 years since ‘The Decision’ aired on ESPN on July 8, 2010, and it’s looking like another decision from a now 41-year-old LeBron James could shake up the basketball world this summer.
Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook has posted odds on where the King will land next, covering all 30 NBA teams plus an option for retirement. Here’s a look into the current market and what each price tells us, from the favorites to the longshots.
LeBron James next team odds
- Cleveland Cavaliers +175
- Los Angeles Lakers +275
- Retirement/Doesn’t play in NBA next season +275
- Golden State Warriors +650
- San Antonio Spurs +700
- New York Knicks +2250
- Portland Trail Blazers +3000
- Dallas Mavericks +5000
- Los Angeles Clippers +5000
- Miami Heat +5000
- Philadelphia 76ers +5000
- Atlanta Hawks +7500
- Chicago Bulls +7500
- Houston Rockets +7500
- Milwaukee Bucks +7500
- Phoenix Suns +7500
- Boston Celtics +10000
- Brooklyn Nets +10000
- Charlotte Hornets +10000
- Denver Nuggets +10000
- Detroit Pistons +10000
- Indiana Pacers +10000
- Memphis Grizzlies +10000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +10000
- New Orleans Pelicans +10000
- Oklahoma City Thunder +10000
- Orlando Magic +10000
- Sacramento Kings +10000
- Toronto Raptors +10000
- Utah Jazz +10000
- Washington Wizards +10000
LeBron James next team odds can be found within the Hard Rock Bet app, under the NBA > LeBron James Specials section.
All referenced odds are subject to change. Market available only to bettors in Florida.
The Favorite: Cleveland Cavaliers (+175)
The most likely outcome on the board according to Hard Rock Bet? A second return to where it all began. Cleveland currently sits atop the odds board at +175, making the Cavaliers the frontrunner to land LeBron for a third stint.
The Cavs are currently locked in a tight playoff series with Detroit, so it remains to be seen whether Cleveland would look to make a run at another reunion with the franchise’s all-time greatest player. Their roster construction for next season also adds some complexity, as James Harden holds a $42.3M player option for 2026-27, while Donovan Mitchell is locked in at $50.1M alongside Evan Mobley ($50.1M) and Jarrett Allen ($28M). If Harden opts in, the math gets tight in a hurry.
Los Angeles Lakers (+275)
Many are speculating that the Lakers’ 115-110 loss in Game 4 to the Oklahoma City Thunder may have been LeBron’s last game in purple and gold. Since joining Los Angeles back in 2018, LeBron has led the franchise to playoff appearances in six of eight seasons, two Western Conference Finals, and of course, the infamous ‘bubble ring’ during the pandemic in 2020.
However, since that title, LA has been bounced in the first round three times and may be looking to reshape its roster following the recent addition of Luka Doncic, who the team is going to build around moving forward. On top of that, Austin Reaves will reportedly decline his $14.8M player option and seek a new deal given his rise over the last few seasons, which could further complicate the Lakers’ cap situation.
Despite all of this, the Lakers are right behind Cleveland with the second-shortest odds to be LeBron’s next team – an outcome that likely wouldn’t surprise anybody.
Retirement (+275)
Sitting right alongside the Lakers at +275, retirement is very much in the conversation. If you calculate the implied probability of a +275 bet, it indicates there’s roughly a 25% chance that he never plays again.
LeBron’s demeanor in press conferences this season has been telling, as he frequently mentions being “too old for this” in certain situations, and has spent a growing amount of time off the court playing golf and posting on social media about how much he loves the game now, having recently picked it up.
Does that mean he’s ready to call it quits? Not necessarily. But it isn’t nothing, either. At 41, with nothing left to prove, LeBron may be ready to move on to greener pastures… or greener fairways.
Golden State Warriors (+650)
It feels like Steph Curry and LeBron James have been teasing a ‘super team’ together for years now. Although both players are in the late stages of their careers and have struggled to find major playoff success recently, this one isn’t completely out of the question at +650. Factor in Steve Kerr’s recent decision to run it back in the Bay Area and Draymond Green’s strong relationship with LeBron, and this one may have some serious legs to it.
San Antonio Spurs (+700)
If LeBron wants a realistic shot at winning a fifth championship, there’s no question that San Antonio is the most attractive destination on this list. The Spurs are on the heels of making their first Western Conference Finals appearance in the post-Popovich era, have one of the strongest young cores in the sport, and the idea of LeBron mentoring Victor Wembanyama is enough to make any basketball fan’s imagination run wild.
New York Knicks (+2250)
LeBron to the Knicks has been rumored every few offseasons for the last 15 years or so, and feels as unlikely as ever. It basically took the entirety of LeBron’s historic career, but the Knicks are finally playing dominant basketball – sitting in the driver’s seat to make their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. At +2250, it would take a lot for New York to shake up its core four and shift to an aging star now that they’ve finally figured it out.
Longshots to land LeBron
The rest of the league’s odds range from +3000 to +10000. The most notable longshot of the bunch is none other than the Miami Heat (+5000), where LeBron won two MVPs, two championships, and spent the bulk of his prime from 2010-2014.
For those that heard his recent comments on his least favorite NBA cities to travel to, you can probably write off the Milwaukee Bucks (+7500) and Memphis Grizzlies (+10000).
A few others tied for the longest odds to land LeBron include the Boston Celtics (+10000), the Toronto Raptors (+10000), and the Washington Wizards (+10000) – it’s safe to say Wizards fans can follow Lakers nation by trashing any photoshops of Trae Young, Anthony Davis and LeBron suiting up together in the near future.
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