LeBron James addresses NBA future amid weeks of speculation about the free agent

• LeBron James announced he was leaving the Los Angeles Lakers last month, sparking speculation that the 41-year-old point forward was moving north to the Golden State Warriors to play alongside Steph Curry.
• James spoke publicly for the first time in weeks Thursday afternoon and indicated that a decision is close, stating, “I won’t hold you guys up too much longer.”
• “It’s not just about the team,” James said. “There’s so many other factors that I’m factoring in right now, on what best fits me as a player, what best fits me as a person and what best fits my happiness, and also my family as well.”
• James moved to the West Coast in 2018 following a successful second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers and he helped the Lakers claim the NBA championship, his fourth title, in the Covid-affected 2020 season.
• “LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history,” the Los Angeles Lakers said on social media. “We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers – including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold.”