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- Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
- Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.

NEW YORK -- In his first public comments since notifying the Los Angeles Lakers of his intent to depart through free agency, LeBron James declined to name his next destination during a live recording of his podcast at Fanatics Fest.

Co-host Tyrese Haliburton and the audience of roughly 5,000 made repeated attempts to extract the information during the session at the Javits Center.

Haliburton opened the discussion by asking whether a choice remained, but James steered the conversation away from any announcement.

The two exchanged lighthearted remarks before moving on, with Haliburton agreeing to drop the topic.

Hours later at a separate CNBC event, James hinted that an announcement would arrive soon.

Since Klutch Sports informed the Lakers of the decision more than two weeks earlier, several clubs have reached out to the 41-year-old veteran.

Haliburton shared that he had contacted James about joining the Pacers before the free-agency period began, receiving only an amused reply and deciding to stop recruiting.

Multiple teams continue to express strong interest, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors, according to league sources.

James used the platform to respond playfully to recent commentary questioning his continued impact, turning the moment into light motivation.

Fans shouted out preferred destinations, prompting James to acknowledge calls for the Warriors, 76ers, Heat and even an unexpected suggestion involving the Yankees.

An 11-year-old attendee approached the stage to ask about the free-agency process, receiving praise from James for the thoughtful inquiry and a detailed response about leadership and legacy.

At the later summit, James discussed the family considerations involved, highlighting conversations with his daughter Zhuri about the upcoming change and time away from home.

He also reflected positively on his eight seasons with the Lakers, thanking ownership, front-office staff, coaches and teammates while looking ahead to the final phase of his career.

Former coach JJ Redick sat nearby with his children as James closed by promising an engaging experience for supporters and critics alike once his destination is set.