During eight long years, the marriage between LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers has defined the modern NBA. Their partnership has brought a championship banner back to LA in 2020 and saw “The King” become the league’s all-time leading scorer at the same time.
However, as the February 2026 trade deadline looms, the air in Los Angeles has grown heavy with the scent of an unavoidable goodbye. According to a report from NBA Insider Jake Fischer, both the franchise and the player have reached a mutual understanding: come June, it will be time to file for divorce.
June 2026 awaits
While holding a competitive 29-19 record, the internal clock inside the franchise has started ticking. Fischer’s report claims that the split has been characterized by a foregone sentiment in Los Angeles.
Apparently, the strategy regarding the LeBron James situation changed notably after the blockbuster acquisition of Luka Doncic in 2025. They no longer worry about James’ future as they are building theirs around Doncic and Austin Reaves. Also, it seems that James’ $52.6 million price tag has become a problem rather than a cornerstone.
Fischer said this in a livestream of the Bleacher Report YouTube channel:
“The Lakers are ready to move on from LeBron James, and I think LeBron James is ready to move on from the Lakers as well. The divorce is expected to happen in June
The road to this “divorce” Fischer talks about has not been without friction. Reports have surfaced over the past months alerting to a growing rift between LeBron and Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss. While Buss has publicly denied all claims, insiders suggest the organization is tired of the “outsized influence” James may have over roster decisions.
Why June?
With the February 5 deadline just days away, a mid-season move is impossible. James holds a no-trade clause, and the Lakers are reportedly planning a conservative approach to the deadline, choosing to save their assets for a post-LeBron rebuild this summer.
As the purple and gold lights turn off on this partnership, it is clear that the divorce will not be a messy tabloid battle, but a quiet, mutually agreed-upon exit. LeBron James brought the Lakers back to the mountaintop and vice versa, so now both sides seem ready to see what life looks like without each other.
There was Los Angeles Lakers before James’ arrival, and there was LeBron James before stepping into LA.
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