7 NBA Stars Who Didn't Want To Join LeBron James And The Lakers

LeBron James has long been a magnet for star players, attracting top talent to his teams. However, several high-profile superstars have avoided joining forces with him and the Los Angeles Lakers. Here’s a look at the prominent NBA stars who have steered clear of teaming up with LeBron and the Lakers since The King’s arrival in California.

Jimmy Butler

In 2019, Jimmy Butler was a coveted free agent, and many speculated he might join the Lakers after his single season with the Philadelphia 76ers, to form a formidable duo with LeBron James. Instead, Butler chose to sign with the Miami Heat (eventually signing a three-year, $146.4 million extension in the 2021 offseason), where he has led the team to multiple deep playoff runs, including two NBA Finals appearances in 2020 and 2023.

A player of Butler's caliber would have significantly elevated the young Los Angeles Lakers, who featured promising talents like Brandon Ingram alongside LeBron James. However, Butler prefers a culture of hard work over drama. Instead of joining forces with LeBron and becoming an immediate favorite in the West, Butler chose to head east to Miami to carve his own path.

Bringing his work ethic and leadership to the Heat, Butler quickly transformed the team and led them to the NBA Finals in his first season. Three years later, Butler led the Heat to another Finals appearance and there is no doubt that LeBron James would have loved to have Butler by his side.

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard's decision to join the Los Angeles Clippers instead of the Lakers indeed shocked many NBA fans and analysts alike. After leading the Toronto Raptors to an NBA championship in 2019, it was widely speculated that Leonard would return to his home state of California and team up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Lakers in the 2019-20 preseason.

However, Leonard opted for a different path. He chose to join the Los Angeles Clippers, a team that historically had been overshadowed by their more successful neighbors, the Lakers. This move surprised many because it s howcased Leonard's desire to challenge and compete against LeBron James and the Lakers rather than join forces with them.

By choosing the Clippers, Leonard aimed to carve his own legacy and lead a franchise that hadn't yet achieved the same level of success as the Lakers. No surprise, Leonard signed a three-year, $153 million extension in January 2024 and will likely play out his career with the Clippers.

Paul George

Paul George looks to be on a path to making the Hall of Fame with a resume that includes nine All-Star selections. The Lakers missed out on a chance to bring George in not once but three times.

During his tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder, George played a complementary role behind Russell Westbrook, showcasing his ability to thrive alongside another dominant player. Despite opportunities to join LeBron James and potentially elevate his profile on a championship-contending team, George opted to re-sign with the Thunder on a four-year, $137 million deal.

Even after Kawhi Leonard snubbed the Lakers, Paul George decided to snub the Lakers once again to join the superstar player with the Clippers following the 2018-19 season. The Clippers have long been known as the Lakers’ unsuccessful rivals, but the Clippers pulled the trigger on a George deal because he wanted to play there.

Fast forward to 2024, George is a free agent and decided to walk from the Clippers. Could the Lakers bring him in? No chance. George decided to take the most money on a long-term contract by signing a four-year, $212 million deal. With George forming a new Big Three alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the Lakes are stuck without one.

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant's decision to join the Brooklyn Nets in 2019-20 instead of teaming up with LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers indeed surprised many NBA fans and analysts. Durant had the potential to form a dominant duo with LeBron that could rival some of the greatest pairings in NBA history. Instead, Durant opted for the Brooklyn Nets in a four-year, $198 million deal, where he teamed up with Kyrie Irving, LeBron's former teammate from their time together with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Durant's comments about the "toxic" environment around LeBron James shed light on the complexities and pressures that come with playing alongside a global superstar like LeBron. While Durant didn't explicitly cite this as the sole reason for his decision, it hinted at factors that influenced his choice to pursue a different opportunity with the Nets. Even when Durant was available by the Nets, the Lakers took the blame for not pulling the trigger on a trade by giving Brooklyn any assets they wanted.

Durant has since joined the Phoenix Suns after being traded in 2022-23 where he looks to be in the right spot before his retirement. It could entirely be possible that the Suns decide to trade the 35-year-old but even if that situation arises, it is highly unlikely the Lakers will get the deal over the line considering their past failures.

Kyrie Irving

The Laker's (and LeBron's) failure to land Kyrie Irving is well documented. Kyrie Irving's departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017 indeed sent shockwaves through the NBA community. His decision to request a trade from a team that had just reached three consecutive NBA Finals, winning one championship in 2016, was unexpected. Many speculated about the reasons behind Irving's departure, particularly his relationship with LeBron James and his desire to forge his own path.

Irving joined the Boston Celtics but that proved to be a disaster because he left without leading the team to the NBA Finals. Irving then decided to join forces with Kevin Durant in Brooklyn in 2019-20, meaning he would ignore the chance to join LeBron in Los Angeles.

Even after Irving was available by the Nets in the 2022-23 season, the Lakers could not get the deal over the line because the Dallas Mavericks had a better offer . The Lakers dropped the ball here and LeBron James was left without the player who helped him win the NBA title in 2016. By missing out on Kyrie, LeBron has had to settle without a superstar point guard without disrespect to D’Angelo Russell.

Chris Paul

Chris Paul , widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time, opted for routes that prioritized his own career trajectory over joining forces with LeBron and the Lakers. Instead of leveraging his influence to orchestrate a move to any of LeBron James' teams, Paul surprised many by initially getting traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011-12 and later requesting a trade to the Houston Rockets following the 2016-17 season. This move placed him alongside James Harden and led to a successful partnership, reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2018.

Even when the opportunity arose with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2020, where he could have reunited with LeBron James to potentially form the storied "Banana Boat Crew," Paul chose a different course by requesting a trade to the Phoenix Suns where he reached the NBA Finals in 2021.

His decisions highlight a preference for environments where he can lead and shape the team's direction, rather than joining established super teams. Fast forward to 2024 after the Golden State Warriors waived Paul after one season, the Lakers missed out on the point guard who decided to join forces with Victor Wembanyama on a one-year, $11 million deal in San Antonio. The Lakers struck out with Paul so many times it is hard to keep track at this point.

Klay Thompson

LeBron James was willing to take a pay cut if the Lakers could bring Klay Thompson on board in the summer of 2024 but it did not materialize. Thompson opted to sign with the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million deal to form a Big Three with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Thompson would have been a perfect third wheel behind James and Davis as a three-point shooter because he averaged 17.9 points per game on 38.7% from three last season.

Thompson ended the Warriors dynasty by leaving but the Lakers could not capitalize on that. Expect the Dallas Mavericks to usurp the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024-25 season, because Thompson’s ability is more than that of D’Angelo Russell or Austin Reaves. Looking ahead to LeBron’s future in Los Angeles and his chances of winning an NBA title, it isn’t looking too good considering the competition in the Western Conference.

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