LeBron James free agency holds up NBA schedule as Adam Silver makes plea
LeBron James free agency holds up NBA schedule as Adam Silver makes plea
Jeremy GoldsteinFri, July 17, 2026 at 7:01 PM UTC
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Commissioner Adam Silver, just like the rest of NBA fans, is waiting to see where LeBron James signs -Credit:Getty Images
41-year-old LeBron James is planning on returning to the NBA for a final campaign next season. Which team he'll play for, however, remains a mystery deep into the offseason.
James reiterated at Fanatics Fest in New York this week that a decision is coming soon. NBA commissioner Adam Silver sure hopes so: he recently revealed that he cannot finalize the 2026/27 NBA schedule until James signs.
The four-time MVP winner has played on Christmas Day, one of the NBA's marquee scheduling dates, a record 20 times. Silver likely anticipates this trend to continue in 2026, one factor in delaying the schedule release.
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"Where LeBron plays will affect the schedule," Silver said on CNBC. "So, I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the [NBA's 2026-27] schedule, because, as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the schedule.
"But it will influence how we set the schedule, how we set opening week, Christmas Day, et cetera. So, I need him to make a decision."
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LeBron James, pictured here in 2012, has played on Christmas more than any other NBA player
James spent the last eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers but will move to a new side this offseason. His old Cleveland Cavaliers are considered to be amongst the favorites alongside the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors.
Rich Paul, James's good friend and longtime agent, told Max Kellerman on his podcast Thursday that James on the Warriors would lead to a bananza of nationally televised games.
"The NBA would have to give them 60 nationally televised games... I'm being sarcastic, but at least half, if not more," Paul admitted.
"Steph, Klay, and Dray, and when it was still Lebron, Kyrie, K-Love, between those two teams, they might have had 30 each nationally televised games," he added, referencing when James's Cavaliers faced the Warriors in four consecutive NBA finals from 2015 to 2018.
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"I might be wrong, but we should look it up. You also would have to have two different hotels. You'd have to have a fugazi hotel to park all of the buses in front of ...because they won't get any rest."
James was an All-Star once again last season while playing on a salary north of $50 million. He was take a significant pay cut next year: James is expected to sign for either the league minimum or for a mid-level exception.
Source: “AOL Sports”
