LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul has quashed rumors that the Los Angeles Lakers forward could be on his way before the upcoming trade deadline.
Rumors that James was traded by the Lakers began spreading on social media after he cryptically posted an hourglass emoji over X following their 138-122 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.
That defeat was LA’s second consecutive 16-point humiliation, and before his cryptic post online, LeBron expressed his frustration by claiming, “We could get our asses kicked by any team in the NBA.”
Although, despite his recent investigation into the organization, James’ agent insists his client isn’t going anywhere.
“LeBron will not be traded, and we are not asking for one,” Paul said.
LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul dismissed rumors that his client might be traded by the Lakers
James posted a cryptic hourglass emoji on
James did not clarify what he was referring to with the tweet, and he also missed the Lakers’ win against the Boston Celtics on Thursday due to an ankle injury.
However, the 39-year-old superstar expressed his frustrations when speaking to reporters after the loss to Atlanta.
“We can beat any team in the NBA on any given night. And then on any given night, we get our ass kicked by whatever team in the NBA,” James said. “That’s where we are.”
‘I have no message for my teammates. Just go out and do your job.”
James has a $51.4 million player option in his current contract for the 2024-2025 season and could choose to leave the Lakers as a free agent next term.
He signed an extension in 2022 that could keep him in the Lakers jersey for at least the 2024-2025 season.
LeBron spoke about the state of the Lakers after their latest loss to the Atlanta Hawks
Although from the moment he signed the contract — and long before the extension became a reality — league insiders speculated that James entered that clause so he could leave the Lakers and join forces with his eldest son, LeBron ‘Bronny’ James Jr.
Bronny is currently a freshman at USC and will be eligible to declare for the NBA once the college basketball season concludes.
James has talked for years about his dream of playing in the NBA with his son and depending on how the Lakers might choose to make that dream come true this season and next year’s draft.
