At the start of the 1997-98 season, then Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson told his players that it would be their last as the dynasty that dominated the NBA throughout their decade.

With NBA titles in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997, Jackson set out to complete a second three-peat with a squad spearheaded by the trio of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.

Jackson labelled that season the Last Dance, which would later become the name of a popular Netflix documentary framed around that historic campaign.

The Bulls would win a sixth championship with Jackson, Jordan, Pippen and Rodman all then leaving Chicago.

Almost three decades later, and another of the NBA's all-time greats. LeBron James, is facing similar territory himself with his own last dance.

On Tuesday, the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and 22-time All-Star announced he will be departing the Los Angeles Lakers after an eight-year stay.

At 41, James' next move is likely to be his NBA swansong - but how did we get here and where might he end up?

LeBron's Lakers legacy

LeBron James and Anthony Davis smoking cigars after winning the 2020 NBA Championship The first season of LeBron James and Anthony Davis together at the Los Angeles Lakers saw them end a 10-year wait to win the NBA Championship

Between 2000 and 2010, the Lakers were one of the most dominant sides in the NBA. They won a three-peat between 2000 and 2002, finished runners up in 2004 and 2008 and then went back-to-back with titles in 2009 and 2010.

But by the time James had signed for them in 2018 following the end of his second spell with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Lakers had gone five straight years without reaching the play-offs.

The latter two of those were the first Lakers seasons since 1995-96 without legend Kobe Bryant, who had spent two decades and his entire NBA career in Los Angeles prior to his 2016 retirement.

There was a need for a talisman and a change of fortunes for the Lakers and in time, with James at the helm, they got exactly that.

Year one saw an improvement for the Lakers after a poor start to the season, but a groin injury sustained by James kept him sidelined for 17 matches. That run would prove costly as the Lakers fell 11 wins short of the play-offs.

The 2019-20 season would prove to be the turning point in a deeply emotional time for those connected to the Lakers on and off the court.

The arrival of centre Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans and a positional switch for James to make him full-time point guard would ultimately prove fruitful.

At the end of January 2020, James would move to third on the NBA's all-time scoring charts. A day later, Bryant and his daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash.

James pledged after Bryant's death to continue Kobe's legacy and months later, LeBron would do exactly that by delivering Los Angeles with its first NBA title in a decade.

James would be named the finals MVP for that series and in doing so, won over Lakers fans who had been longing for a hero following years of, at best, mediocrity.

While the Lakers have not won an NBA championship since, they have been a regular play-off side ever since and there was further success in the NBA Cup in 2023, during which James was named MVP.

He might not have left the trophy-laden success at the Lakers he will have wished for, but he departs having put the Los Angeles franchise back to where their reputation compels them to be.

Lakers exit inevitable but desire for more remains

When James' contract with the Lakers was coming to an end in the summer of 2024, there was much speculation around whether he would stick with them and extend his stay, twist and move elsewhere, or stop playing altogether.

That summer did coincide with his son Bronny entering the NBA draft. The Lakers picked Bronny with one of the final selections of the second round.

Less than a fortnight later, James signed a two-year extension with the second year being optional.

The 2024-25 season led to not only LeBron and Bronny becoming the first father and son duo to play together in the NBA, but also the Lakers benefiting from one of the most surprising trade deals in NBA history.

In February 2025, the sport was rocked as six-time All-Star Luka Doncic was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers, with Davis heading the other way.

Both players were of stardust quality, but Doncic is six years younger and someone who the Lakers could pin their long-term future on, knowing James would inevitably depart at some stage.

Last season, the Lakers looked at their best for some time. Hopes of a deep run in the play-offs were dashed by a Doncic injury, but the Slovenian did finish as the regular season scoring champion for the second time in three years.

With James missing a quarter of the regular season, Doncic proved there could be life after LeBron. And therefore time now feels right for a James departure.

Where next for James?

Steph Curry and LeBron James pose for a selfie with their Olympic gold medals

Steph Curry and LeBron James were part of the United States team to win gold at the 2024 Olympics in Paris

Now to the fun part. What next for LeBron?

At 41, it would be surprising if this summer's switch is not the last of a career that started with the Cavaliers in 2003.

With career earnings from basketball alone thought be north of half a billion dollars, money may not necessarily be the motive for his next move.

A player of James' calibre, even at his age, rarely becomes available at what will be a likely affordable contract but the veteran, given his timeline, is surely going to want to move to a contending team to try and add to his four NBA titles.

Like the Cavs, another of James' former teams in the Miami Heat have also been suggested as a potential home.

A return to Florida would form a formidable starting five alongside fellow new signing and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and centre Bam Adebayo.

Given the Heat traded key members of their squad away to land Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee, a player of James' calibre would add further scoring power and experience with Miami team focused on a quick rebuild towards a title push.

Cleveland have been on an upwards trajectory with four straight visits to the play-offs, but have lacked the ability to go on a deep post-season run.

A move back to his home state of Ohio, should he play at forward, would form a strong starting line-up with James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, one that would not lack talent or experience.

The Golden State Warriors are another team reportedly considering a move.

James and Steph Curry looked at home playing alongside one another during the USA's Olympic gold win in Paris two summers ago. They too are in need of an injection of quality after their worst season since 2019-20 last term.

Also linked are the Minnesota Timberwolves. They already have one of the league's new stars in Anthony Edwards who James also played with at the last Olympics.

They have reached the final four of the Western Conference in three straight seasons, but have never reached the NBA Finals.

James remains a box office figure, on and off court. The coming weeks and months of deliberation over his future will cause considerable fanfare, let alone when he plays in new colours this autumn. (BBC)

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