Chris Haynes says that LeBron James himself will not be meeting with any of the teams throughout free agency, instead allowing Rich Paul to do it. Based on the info Rich Paul provides him, LeBron will make his decision.
LeProxy
LeEmissary
LePhoneIt
LeHave My People Call Your People
LeShadowPuppet
LeFirstDisciple
LePayAttentionToMe
LeMicrosoftTeams
LeThisisSparta
LeHerald
The only way to do it. Just ask Bronny.
LeConsigliere
LeWorkingFromHome
LeThimdoallthework
LeMouth of Sauron
LeLiasion
LeGolfnWine
Working LeMotely
LeEighteenth Hole
LeProsy
LePaulHeyman
LeHandofLeKing
RepLesentative
LeDeligate
LePlausibleDeniability
So rich paul’s podcast is gonna give us the scoop
I think it’s kinda nifty that each free agency decision has a theme that kinda reflects the evolution of sports media:
2010: Televised special
2014: Player’s Tribune Article
2018: Press Release
2026: Podcast drop(?)
AI generated article announcing him joining a team that doesn’t exist
Yes - LeBron James has decided on his next team. LeBron James will play his 29th year in the NBA for the St. Louis Stallions beginning with the 2023-24 season.
Yes, he will by playing for the Stallions, not the Lakers. Would you like me to tell you more about LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers?
Yes, you’re absolutely right!
LeBron isn’t just an NBA player. He’s quintessential to the game of basketball. Passion, integrity and competitive fire - these are what drive LeBron to do what he does. Not just one of the GOATs, but the greatest of all time.
From the moment he was drafted by the Lakers in 2024, James has been a positive contributor to his team’s success.
Dementia Magic tweets
I wish this was a thing lmao
Leberonie James junior the second will be joining the cleami cavasixers for his 42nd nba season joining fellow support starts wilt chamberlain and strawbery
BREAKING: LeBron James Signs Historic Deal with Expansion Las Vegas Orbit
LAS VEGAS — In a move that has completely shocked the sports world, LeBron James announced today that he is signing a multi-year contract with the Las Vegas Orbit, a brand-new NBA expansion franchise.The Orbit, which was officially approved by the league’s board of governors just last month, will make their competitive debut next season with the four-time MVP leading the charge.
The Orbit plans to play within a renovated LeSphere, and Lebron’s head will be showcased on the circular venue 6 days out of every week. On the 7th day his likeness will rest.
I got an AI generated news notification from Google that Bronny James was considering retirement…
You’re absolutely right to push back there. Taking a deeper look at the data, the Kansas City Firehawks aren’t real - yet!
I’ve seen his toes. He’s been AI-generated all along.
LeBron will joining the Miami of Ohio Warriors
Clævlanḍ ÇAvalėers
Went from beautiful television specials to damn podcasts💔💔
A microcosm of society as a whole sadly
You are upset because we now don’t need to rely on TV networks gatekeeping what to broadcast to the masses?
You’re probably just joking because he chose your team, but most Lebron hate was born from three arrogance required to turn a free agency decision into a television special.
It was a combination of a lot of things, and I think just it being on TV wasn’t really one of the biggest factors.
Not telling Cleveland they were out before making the decision on TV. If Cleveland knew they were out, fans burning jerseys and just the pure hatred the fans had don’t become trending which overall significantly lessens the hate.
Teaming up for a big 3. TV or not, LeBron was going to have haters by having to form a super team with Skip Bayless leading the way.
The “not 2, not 3” and the entire party they threw. They wanted to be champions without doing the work.
Curious how the 2018: Press Release matches the time in your eyes? Missing the connection there.
Even though it’s old fashioned it’s something you can cut and paste onto Twitter
You literally got this from the Hoop Collective Podcast. At least shout them out lol
What the hell happened to players tribune? Did the nbapa stop paying the ghost writer?
People who actually read lost interest because every piece read exactly the same. The people who would have been impressed by ghost written articles are the people who don’t read.
Why hiring a ghost writer to write a bunch of things that 90% of your fans aren’t going to read when you can do a podcast and get more views?
2032: Neuralink update from your AI clone
How the hell is a press release more modern than a televised special or a players tribune article?
That sorta throws the entire thing off lol
Each episode a new team will be erased off the white board
Gonna be a reality show with him crossing out all but one team on the whiteboard
it’ll be a gender reveal with the team’s colors.
Philadelphia 76ers, you are………not the father.
The Decision Part II: The Senior Citizen Discount
I actually somewhat want to see the Senior Citizen Brigade fully stocked in GSW country just to see it play out over a full season with 3 of 5 starters nursing whatever injuries every week and LeBron stuck carrying the team again like so often occurred in Laker yellow. If they could still get to the playoffs, that first series might be cool to watch. Just don’t know how many 7 games series they could handle.
It’s almost as if the meetings don’t matter because he has already decided where he’s going
I think it’s this, but he’s allowing teams to plead their case in the off chance they can convince him
Like if Ballmer’s best friend’s wife offers Savannah a $100 million job?
Not like he’d get any consequences for doing it again
His mistake was not doing it for more stars. He could have bought all top free agents every year.
yeah, is steve ballmer stupid?
I think that specifically was a combo of ballmer and kawhi’s sleazy uncle. If balmer was propositioning every star he’d catch way more heat. You gotta be sure both parties are willingly to play ball for under the table deals.
He’s so rich he could lose that much every year (maybe 10x that) for the rest of his life and he’d still be a billionaire.
If he spent \(1 billion a year, he'd never run out of money. His net worth grows by more than that every year. Assuming a 5% yearly growth of his net worth (which is asily achievable, just putting his money in an index fund would return more than that), he could spend \)6 billion a year, and not only would he never run out of money, but he could keep all of the $130 billion he currently has and probably even grow his net worth a little.
he’s lost \(29bil this year because he doesn't literally have \)130bil in an index fund, he mostly has absolutely staggering amounts if MSFT stock and they’ve been in a nosedive for the last year
he is not growing 5% in 2026.
Which is completely reasonable. LeBron’s camp can only guess a front office’s intention, better to get clarity on what they would do if LeBron joins
He’s allowing teams to plead their case to Rich Paul, so I don’t think he’s that serious about hearing them out. I agree that his mind is made up and he’s just using this to manufacture dramatic moments.
That part is just for his ego.
I think he’s allowing teams to plead because he wants people to beg for him. Like the hot girl in school that wanted all of the guys to flirt with her 😅
Complete fan fiction and projection lmao what the hell is this
People are weird man
Rich Paul is his agent, he is doing exactly what an agent is hired to do and negotiate with teams on his client’s behalf.
Nope lebrons pretty hot
people forget that Miami wasn’t his first choice in 2010, it was NY. So at the least Lebron is not prone to sticking with a choice if it doesn’t feel right. I don’t think he’s made his mind up.
It’s like Ben Affleck in Good Will Hunting going out for job interviews.
Let me tell you some, you’re suspect
Reeeetaaaaaaaaainer! Allegedly, yawr situation, for you, would be concurrently improved If I had 2 hundred in my pocket right now.
Any business we have heretofore, you can speak with my agent Rich Paul.
Will you take a check
RETAINERRRR
That, or he just doesn’t care that much anymore and would rather be watching the World Cup than listening to a bunch of cliche pitches
Yeah why on earth would he spend his time on a dozen pitch meetings when he has someone whose job it is to do it can do it and give him the details?
Isn’t this the sort of the thing you pay an agent to do? They go and list your demands and teams counter and you don’t get involved and then you make a decision based on the information gathered.
I’m sure it’s cute the first 3 or 4 times to get a neat blanket or whatever but he’s 23 years deep and doesn’t really need to be there when all of the information can be thrown into a 10 minute PowerPoint.
Each time “The Decision” was released, it was less and less dramatic
One hour special where fans set his jerseys on fire then straight to the tarmac
“I’m coming home”
Post on ig: new chapter in LA
Trunk jersey boy do whatever tf you want and keep me out of it
Surprised teams are even sending reps if this is how it’s being “decided.”
Whatever the team is, he’s already decided if he’s having some other dude take the meetings.
What?
LeBron is probably the smartest basketball player to have ever lived. I mean, in terms of basketball. Why wouldn’t he prepare a list of needs and -can’t haves and have Paul provide him the details he needs?
He’s been working with Paul his entire career. LeBron doesn’t need to be in person to tell me what you plan to do with your roster.
People are acting like it’s a forgone conclusion that he goes to Cleveland. I don’t think he makes them a contender.
I think the only teams he truly moves the needle for are Minnesota, Denver and San Antonio. And he’s not going to any of those.
he very much moves the needle for Philly
we have a decent hole at the 4 and our biggest issue is not having a real positive passer / connector between all our iso & off-ball scoring guys
I think without LeBron we’re a really good playoff team but he pushes us to a legitimate championship contender level
I might agree with that. But Lebron also likely ends up playing Center for that team when the big dude bows out of 60% of the season and before the second round begins.
whether we get LeBron or not, we should almost surely make a trade at some point to shore up the 5 knowing Embiid’s gonna miss time. I don’t think they’d ever have LeBron start at the 5 though, they’d sooner run Barlow there (who started for us most of last year) if Bona/Hukporti are terrible
also for the record once embiid came back from his emergency appendectomy (lol) he played every playoff game without issue, we just weren’t good enough to beat the Knicks (as every other team was this year too)
Player will use agent to negotiate with teams
Literally how every contract negotiation goes down in all sports lmao but people will act like LeBron is a diva for it. Agents always do all the talking.
I mean usually players meet with the teams lol. Bron isnt a diva for this but let’s not go too far the other way.
Yeah, and basketball in particular goes far with star player recruitment. A few FO people have written about it over the years – everything is curated to the players’ favorite things, from music to food to hobbies, the whole pitch trip is designed around the player they’re recruiting. And many players will get offended if details are off. So yeah, it’s much more typical for a star player to attend these in person and be “wooed” by the teams (while also being pitched on the basketball side). LeBron just probably feels like he’s been there and done that.
Yah. Also more importantly, usually teams show a visions for the team. Bron will be there next year/MAYBE 2 years. The vision of the team is obvious. This isn’t gonna be a long term thing
that’s not really how it works for Free Agents though.
You’ve seen over the news that Duren was getting meetings around the league, looking for an offer sheet. And same for Kessler. It’s not like a star player is not even meeting with the FO before signing a contract.
For lower level guys there’s still a need to have a face to face meeting for the organization to do their own due diligence as well, LeBron is above that sort of thing at this point.
It’s LeBron though.
What else is an agent for if not to negotiate better contracts and take the meetings?
Guys, it’s Sacramento let’s stop kidding ourselves here
They already cleared DeMar’s caps space today, can you all not connect the dots?!?!?!
If he managed to get a ring for the Kings he’s probably in his own tier above Jordan at that point lmao
might as well make him king of the planet earth
LeBron would be 5-6 in the Finals with 4 different franchises versus Jordan’s two three-peats.
Winning with the Kings would count as one threepeat by itself after he Make-A-Wishes a whole franchise
the King finally ending up on the Kings
“A KING amongst KINGS #ThatKidFromAkron #LiveLaughLove”
It would be poetic, first NBA game was in Sactown…
Dudes with Adele, rich as hell, getting wined and dined around the country on Lebrons behalf. Rich is the real MVP
Rich Paul’s rise to a king will be studied. He’s been rolling in the deep for years.
He sets fire to the rain
Sad as hell Listening to Adele
I feel ya baby
I thought you were rapping but MVP doesn’t rhyme with behalf.
It’s like when the Rock would call into Monday Night Raw “via satellite” lmaoooo
No disrespect Hogan but the tofu is ready!
Basically he’s going to Cleveland lol
LeWasting everyone’s time
Wouldn’t be Lebron if it wasn’t. It’s always going to be more Lecomplicated than not. I predict there’s going to be some grandiose reasoning behind his decision that will fit into his film
Don Bron
lmao my first thought, he saw the Kawhi drama and is like “Only person that’s gonna speak to me directly is my conciliary.”
After Rich was running his mouth about Reaves saying he needs to be traded and isn’t worth the money, there was a ton of LeBron Stan’s in the lakers sub saying Rich doesn’t speak for LeBron lol
Dude is a direct mouth piece for LeBron
He literally thought Lakers should have traded Memphis for JJJ… in return for AR-15 is all 🤣
A big that can’t rebound or stay out of foul trouble or the home grown raising star who helped the team secure a top 4 seed 2 years in a row lol
It was 100% a leverage play, Klutch was hoping to force out Reaves so they’d have more leverage in contract negotiations
Breaking news: Player asks agent to do job of agent
*redditors complain about it*
LeBullshit
Goddam I’m sick of hearing about this shit
The Ringer welcomes its newest podcast member, LeBron James
Can this guy just fuck off?
That feels like a red flag and even the best player in the world at 42 ain’t good enough to not show up and talk to me in person
Do obvious that hes letting Rich Paul manipulate teams into giving Kltch clients thier paydays while dangling Lebron over thier heads
They’re trying to move AD to a new team as well.
AD doesn’t want to be in Washington but still wants his 60 mil player option so he won’t take a buy out. They’re probably hoping to convince someone like the warriors if they trade for AD then LeBron will come. They’re going to use the LeBron move to leverage other moves
I didn’t follow the exact, but AD doesn’t want to play in Washington or does he not want to play for a rebuilding team?
Wizards does have a pretty nice lineup. The only issue is AD’s health but obviously we can’t use that against….well, AD’s decision-making.
Its crazy that it took until his last season to do this lol
Honestly can’t wait for both LeBron and Rich Paul to be out of the league.
Shit is annoying as fuck. Complete attention whore
My god this is painful.
I can’t wait for the LeBron era to be over
Why is he so high maintenance? Just meet with the 2-3 teams you’re interested in and choose one. The guy is so self absorbed and desperately wanting the attention all the time.
I can’t wait for him to retire. He’s so damn dramatic.
Rich Paul is such a sleezebag man lmao I’m so tired of hearing about this dude
he already knows where he’s going, this is all just to stroke his ego.
calling himself the goat was all ego, too.
that’s his legacy. ego-filled lunacy & failed attempts at becoming the goat.
Tin foil hat: Rich Paul negotiating Aspiration money on LeBron’s behalf with other teams without obviously implicating LeBron.
The league is going to heal once LeBron’s shitty king antics go away when he retires
Cleveland is it then.
This is crap. The idea of LeBron trying to make this offseason about him is laughable. Just pick a team already and ride off into the sunset/
LeMilking it
LePresident and his Secretary of State
For someone who’s expecting to be the third option on the team, this is unacceptable
It’s unacceptable for a player’s agent to do their job? How do you think this works
If a team doesn’t want to deal with said agent-player, you know they could just NOT try to sign/pitch them
I can’t decide who I hate more. Rich Paul or Scott Boras.
We really had to live through the winter of Giannis to endure the summer of Bitch Paul and his little princess. Truly the worst time to be alive.
LeBron is gone choose a team. Rich Paul will call them and that’s it. Everything else is clickbait and bullshit
What a diva!
LeWaiting
LeDosition
Is that Josiah? Didn’t take him long to find new employment opportunities, and it’s well deserved.
middLEman
LeFartNoise
Cant wait for The Decision that was made a week ago on ESPN the Ocho
LeAttention seeker
He already knows where he is going since the beginning. He just likes the media attention
Leave Rich Paul to deal with the “10 to 12 teams” interested in Lebron.
He’s the one who tought of it anyway.
🤣🤣
Rich Paul has been so hyper-present, I’m beginning to wonder..
When was the last time anyone saw LeBron? Is he okay? Are we gearing up for a “Weekend at Bronnie’s” situation where he’s puppeteered by his new teammates?
Dude’s making the entire league a circus for over 20 years, it really baffles the mind
Seeing the league move on from him while he wants to poison a contender would be hilarious. Not even a vet minimum.
Even le bron is tired of his own media circus
Got it
LeDiva
Lebronsworth Bentley
welcome to the shanghai sharks LeBron
Waiting to know is not the annoying part, the annoying part is not know when or how the news will break.
It would be great if there was a designated time and vehicle for us to learn where LeBron will sign.
Question is when he going to make a decision
Weird
That’s off-putting
So, does Rich Paul have an agent? But then who’s the agent for his agent? Is there a never ending chain of agents?
If it’s up to his agent then which team has the most Klutch players right now? That’s most likely the team that will land Lebron.
EGO
That doesn’t sound like a really serious or thorough search. Does it mean that LeBron has basically already made up his mind?
He probably already decided but just wants the attention
god damn make the decision already
can any of the teams just say no and shut him out? honestly get on with it.
It’s 💯 Cleveland. This whole thing is stupid idk why anyone is following this circus rn.
Announce it thru the white board
Have your people call my people head ahh.
Bro already know where he wanna go fr fr
For the first time in his career LeBron is going to go where his agent tells him to
Lebron James prompting ChatGPT (probably): “uh hey ChatGPT it’s me Lebron James, uhh based off my career so far where do you think I should sign next?”
LeGacha hoping to roll a SSR team
All LeBron needs to do is call it LeFinal Chapter and it’s a hit
LeAmbassador
Rich really the Jorge Mendes of basketball