LeBron and Curry teaming up? Reports reveal Warriors have contacted Lakers multiple times over the past 18 months to explore trading for LeBron James

On August 23rd Beijing time, NBA insider Jake Fischer revealed that the Warriors have made multiple attempts in the past 18 months to trade for Lakers star LeBron James.

“According to reports, over the past 18 months, the Warriors have reached out to the Lakers multiple times to discuss the potential of a trade that would pair LeBron James with Stephen Curry. Around this time last year, Curry and LeBron were teammates representing the USA men's national team at the Paris Olympics, where they won the gold medal,” Fischer stated in his report. “After all, the two have faced each other many times in NBA Finals. It is said that LeBron and Curry greatly enjoyed being teammates on the international stage—especially under the coaching of Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.”

Another NBA insider, Marc Stein, added that the Warriors' interest in LeBron was evident as early as the 2024 trade deadline, but these discussions quickly fizzled out because LeBron’s longtime agent, Rich Paul, outright rejected the idea.

“It is widely believed within the industry that if LeBron wanted the Lakers to seriously engage in trade talks with the Warriors, the Lakers might reluctantly open those discussions,” Stein reported in August 2024. “However, league sources revealed that the rumored negotiations never truly progressed—largely due to LeBron’s agent Rich Paul explicitly opposing the move.”

LeBron’s contract includes a trade veto, meaning he has the right to reject any trade proposals. Next season will be the final year of his deal with the Lakers, with a salary of $52.6 million.

As the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron is still widely expected to remain with the Lakers—who not only have Luka Dončić but also signed LeBron’s son Bronny James.

Due to Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agent status, the Warriors have not made any major moves this offseason. In the 2025 NBA playoffs, Curry-led Warriors were eliminated in the second round by the Timberwolves, who had previously ousted LeBron’s Lakers in the first round.

Earlier this summer, after LeBron exercised his $52.6 million player option for next season, Rich Paul’s public comments reignited speculation about LeBron’s “long-term future with the Lakers.”

“LeBron is hungry for championship contention,” Rich Paul said in a June interview with ESPN. “He understands the Lakers are building for the future... We need to evaluate what choice benefits him most at this stage of his career and life. He wants every remaining season to be meaningful.”

Although Paul later clarified that LeBron has not requested a trade, his remarks left room for ambiguity—especially given the Lakers’ clear commitment to Dončić as the team’s cornerstone. Dončić recently signed a 3-year, $165 million extension, solidifying his role as the franchise’s foundation; meanwhile, the nearly 41-year-old LeBron is in the final year of his contract with no renewal talks underway.

The Warriors’ persistent interest in LeBron stems not only from basketball logic but also from an emotional connection—the collaboration between LeBron and Curry at the 2024 Paris Olympics marked a pivotal moment in their relationship.

Under USA men’s basketball head coach Steve Kerr, these longtime NBA Finals rivals displayed immediate chemistry: on the road to Olympic gold, LeBron repeatedly assisted Curry, setting him up for open three-pointers.

“We’ve faced each other countless times on the court... Now being teammates competing at a high level for a prestigious honor has deepened the respect and friendship between us,” Curry said in a September 2024 interview.

Additionally, Curry shared photos on social media celebrating the Olympic gold with LeBron, which quickly went viral and fueled speculation about their potential reunion. Although Curry has not publicly called for a trade to bring LeBron to the Warriors, he left the door open for the future: “Hopefully, we’ll have more experiences like this, whether or not we become teammates. I believe no matter how much playing time we have left, we inspire each other to be better.”

Currently, LeBron remains with the Lakers, and on the surface, relations between the two teams seem “business as usual.” However, it’s clear the Lakers are moving toward a “post-LeBron era” rebuild, while the Warriors are focused on maximizing Curry’s remaining championship window—making the possibility of a “final major LeBron-Curry partnership” a key topic across the NBA.

LeBron has won the regular season MVP four times and the Finals MVP four times since joining the Lakers in 2018. In 2020, he led the Lakers to defeat his former team, the Heat, securing the franchise’s 17th NBA championship.

A four-time NBA champion, LeBron’s career includes stints with the Cavaliers (two periods), Heat, and Lakers. Before the start of next season, his career averages stand at 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. He is also the only player in NBA history ranked in the top five all-time for both total points and total assists.