Draymond Green Provides Telling Update on LeBron James' Decision

LeBron James‘ NBA future is uncertain as the league enters its 2026 offseason.

James is an unrestricted free agent following his 23rd NBA season. The 41-year-old superstar has a few options on the table: retire, re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers or join another NBA team for his 24th professional campaign.

No one knows exactly what James will do. However, his close friend and longtime NBA rival Draymond Green may have an idea.

Green weighed in on the situation during the most recent episode of his podcast, discussing with ESPN NBA insider Tim Legler.

“I try not to use personal relationships and basketball to kind of cross those lines, but I think from just what I see, I don’t think it’s a matter of if he goes to another team or not. I think it’s a matter of if he continues playing or not,” Green said.

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James is a rumored target for a few NBA teams, including Green’s Golden State Warriors squad.

“I don’t foresee it like ‘Oh man, he’s going to go to Phoenix. He’s going to go to Golden State.’ I don’t foresee that,” Green added.

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James was asked about his retirement plans during a recent exclusive interview for Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports issue, where he was featured on the cover.

"It's up to the mind," James said. "Where the mind goes, the body will lay. When I'm not in love with getting to the arenas on game days five hours before to start my preparation, if I'm out of love with getting to practice 2½ hours beforehand, then I know I'll be done. Because then I’m going to start cheating the game."

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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 6:28 PM.