‘This is very tough’ – LeBron James’ free agency decision drastically changed the NBA and enraged fans across the league
It was easy for LeBron James this time.
Stay in Los Angeles.
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Keep playing for the Lakers until retirement.
Spend a season or two wearing the same NBA uniform as his son, Bronny, who was just drafted by one of the most famous sports franchises in America.
LeBron re-signed with the Lakers in free agency on Wednesday, despite having the opportunity to join any of the league's other 29 teams -- including several title contenders that could sell a ton of tickets with the sport's all-time leading scorer on a new hardwood.
He agreed to a two-year, $104 million contract that includes a no-trade clause, according to .
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But it hasn't always been this easy for LeBron, and the NBA is clearly missing something when a decision by The King is this easy.
In 2010, LeBron made the Decision of all decisions.
"This is tough. This is very tough, because you feel like you've let a lot of people down," LeBron said.
"You've raised a lot of people's expectations also. But it was a tough decision, because I know how loyal I am.
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"One thing my mother told me when I was going through this process and what ultimately helped me make my decision is you have to do what's best for you and what's going to make you happy at the end of the day, because no one can live with the consequences or anything that comes with your decision besides you."
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Those were LeBron's words when he stunned Cleveland and took his talents to Miami, forming a Big Three with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
While some NBA fans loved the drama, many hated the idea of LeBron walking away from the Cavaliers so he could win a world championship with a superteam.
Throwback to when LeBron James had his first encounter with NBA legend Michael Jordan at a Chicago basketball gym
A televised special on ESPN was widely criticized and, for some, is still a turning point in their view of LeBron.
"This was so funny, they managed to drag this five second interview out forever," one fan posted.
"You could tell immediately what he had done by the gasps and silence from the people in the gym," a second fan wrote.
"Most infamous 21 seconds in sports history," a third fan said.
LeBron felt the weight of his 2010 decision and appeared to quickly understand the backlash that was coming.
"This is a very emotional time for me," he said. "I know it's emotional for the fans and also for the area.
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"If it was a perfect world, I would have loved to stay, because I've done so many great things for that team, they've done so many great things for me. But I feel like it's time to change."
LeBron won two titles with the Heat but failed to deliver all the championships that were teased.
He eventually returned to Cleveland to win a title with his hometown Cavs, overcoming a historic 3-1 deficit to the Golden State Warriors.
Since joining the Lakers, LeBron has one title.
Los Angeles has disappointed the last two seasons and was knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by Denver in 2023-24.
Fourteen years after The Decision, LeBron remained with the Lakers and will play with his son, Bronny.
The decision was more personal than purely basketball business.
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After hiring the inexperienced JJ Redick as head coach and watching Klay Thompson sign with the Dallas Mavericks, it's hard to find anyone predicting LeBron will win it all with the Lakers next season.
His best NBA decision could have been leaving Los Angeles, but that's something a 39-year-old LeBron was unwilling to do in 2024.
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