LeBron James Next Team Odds & Prediction for 2024-25 Season
With LeBron James not yet committing to a return with the Los Angeles Lakers, we're looking at the LeBron James next team odds from our best NBA betting sites.
After contemplating retirement during the 2023 offseason, LeBron James returned to the Los Angeles Lakers for his fourth campaign with the team. James led the Lakers to the inaugural NBA in-season tournament title, but he ultimately struggled down the stretch before his team bowed out in five games in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs.
The Denver Nuggets, one of the NBA championship odds favorites, knocked the Lakers out of the postseason for the second consecutive season. The 39-year-old excelled in the playoffs while averaging 27.8 points, 8.8 assists, and 6.8 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to keep his team in the hunt.
It's unclear if James will play another season, return to the Lakers, or opt out of his current deal and sign elsewhere. The 20-time All-Star took to social media to say no decision has been made.
"I’ve seen, heard a lot of reports about my future. I said it last night and I’ll say it again," James wrote. "I do not know yet as I’m only thinking about spending time with my family & friends!"
Below, we're looking at the odds and the betting market for LeBron James' next team.
LeBron James next team odds
(Odds as of May 1)
| Team | DraftKings (ON) | FanDuel (ON) |
|---|---|---|
| Lakers | +190 | -170 |
| 76ers | +1000 | +2000 |
| Thunder | +1000 | +2900 |
| Knicks | +1000 | +1300 |
| Cavaliers | +1000 | +1300 |
| Clippers | +1500 | +4800 |
| Hawks | +1600 | +1900 |
| Heat | +1600 | +1300 |
| Spurs | +2000 | +2900 |
| Bucks | +2000 | +10000 |
Favorite to be LeBron James' next team
Lakers (+190 via DraftKings)
The Lakers are the runaway favorite to retain LeBron for next season, and rightfully so. The odds from FanDuel imply a 62.96% probability he'll be back in the purple and gold, according to our betting calculator, while the DraftKings odds represent a 34.48% probability. He's been with the team for six seasons and will turn 40 later this year. Is he really going to spend his twilight years with a new squad?
It's doubtful LeBron would leave L.A., even if the Lakers have struggled to win consistently since taking the NBA Finals in 2020 in the bubble. If James is going to return though, he'll want the promise of actually being able to contend for a title. That's where things could get sticky for the Lakers.
L.A. hasn't finished higher than the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference since that title-winning run in 2019-20. While the Lakers did manage to reach the Western Conference Finals in 2022-23, they were clearly outmatched, and the Nuggets promptly swept them.
Many questions loom. How much does LeBron believe in Darvin Ham as his head coach? Would he want a new bench boss leading the team? And how much better can the Lakers get this offseason? Would they be willing to make a major free-agent splash or trade for an All-Star?
LeBron James next team prediction
Lakers
Regardless of the Lakers' offseason moves, James is highly unlikely to join an aging Miami Heat team or return to the Cleveland Cavaliers despite his issues with owner Dan Gilbert. And it's hard to picture James wanting to play for Tom Thibodeau in The Big Apple.
Looking beyond those three, are the Golden State Warriors even in a better position than the Lakers? The Atlanta Hawks certainly aren't, and the harsh winters in Philadelphia and Chicago don't seem like something anyone would trade the beach for, let alone a 40-year-old father who has laid down his roots in the City of Angels.
Drinking wine in the sun sounds a whole lot more appealing during the winter than bundling up for 26-degree weather. On a more serious note, it already sounds like Anthony Davis is invested in bringing LeBron back.
While Davis does get a player early termination option, he's voiced his commitment to keeping James in L.A. as the pair prepare for the Olympics this summer. With Davis on board, the Olympics may work as a way to recruit others to push their way to Los Angeles (Kevin Durant?) rather than an opportunity for James to be swayed.
The other interesting factor is the Bronny James of it all. The Lakers are the favorites by the 2024 NBA Draft odds to select James' son. The +250 odds imply a 28.57% probability the Lakers take the former USC Trojan. Bronny is also maintaining his collegiate eligibility and hitting the transfer portal. So he may not even be in the draft. But if he does enter, what's the harm in the Lakers taking a swing on him to appease their star?
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LeBron James team history
| Team | Years | NBA Championship | All-Stars | MVPs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | 2018-present | One (2020) | Six | Zero |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2014-2018 | One (2016) | Four | Zero |
| Miami Heat | 2010-2014 | Two (2012, 2013) | Four | Two (2012, 2013) |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2003-2010 | Zero | Six | Two (2009, 2010) |
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Related pages
- Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)
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