Bill Simmons Thinks LeBron James Leaves Lakers for Western Rival
After eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James becomes a free agent this offseason, and there is a chance he leaves the Lakers for a Western Conference rival.
According to longtime NBA pundit Bill Simmons, he believes that James will leave Los Angeles to sign with the Golden State Warriors.
If I had to bet my life on a team, I think I would bet on (the Warriors)."
"LeBron, what happens with that is a good one. This one is a really fun one because the Warriors is really in play now, like for real. I really feel like if I had to bet my life on a team, I think I would bet on them," Simmons said on the latest edition of his podcast. "I think that would be the move for me."
The Golden State Warriors are a Veteran-Laden Squad
It actually makes a lot of sense for James to wind up in Golden State, as they are a veteran-laden squad who are going to try and make one more championship run in the last few years of superstar Stephen Curry's career.
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With Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green on the roster, the Warriors are one of the oldest teams in the NBA, so the 41-year-old James would fit in well with this squad.
The Warriors need a spark to get them over the hump and try to win the fifth ring of Curry's NBA career, and the team's first since 2022. By bringing in James, it could help elevate the Warriors from a middle-of-the-pack team to a legitimate contender in the deep NBA Western Conference.
Yes, James is an older player who could very well be entering the final season of his own career. But he is still extremely good, and after averaging 20.9 points for the Lakers this past season, James has plenty of gas left in his tank.
He would be a great fit for this veteran Warriors squad, so if James decides that he does want to play one more season in the NBA, the Warriors seem like a good fit.
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How Much Money Can Golden State Offer LeBron James?
The biggest question is, how much money can the Warriors offer James?
If the Warriors make a few tweaks to their roster, they could offer James a starting salary of $15.1 million, which is the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (NTMLE). This would be a far cry from the $52.6 million that James just made in the last year of his Lakers' contract, but it's still a hefty sum of money for a 41-year-old basketball player.
Plus, it's not like James is hurting for money, as he's said to be a billionaire. While he will want to get as much money as he can in free agency, the fit and chance to win another ring are far more important at this stage of his career.
Of course, if James really wanted to help the Warriors out, he could take the veteran's minimum salary, which is in the $3.6 million range. But there's zero chance he will take that, and quite frankly, he's worth much more money than that, as he's not just a typical ring chaser, but still a very capable NBA player at this late point in his basketball career.
The Warriors could really use James, and he could use the Warriors. If he leaves the Lakers, and things are pointing in that direction, then going up the California coast a few hours makes a lot of sense for him and for the Warriors.
We'll see what happens when free agency kicks off on June 30, but if James signs with Golden State, don't forget that Simmons was the first to tell you.
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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 9:03 AM.