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James informed the Lakers at the start of free agency that he would not be returning, subsequently signing with the Philadelphia 76ers – thus ending his eight-year tenure in Los Angeles.
His departure coincided with the Lakers' strategic move to build their team around Luka Dončić, parting ways with several players from last season's roster and embarking on a new chapter without James.
While speculation suggested James felt the Lakers were ready to move on without him and didn't fully appreciate his contributions to the franchise, O'Neal views the situation simply as part of the NBA's business.
No, that's what we call basketball business. When you get older, and you're still playing at a high level and trying to command big money, a franchise might say, "Do I want to pay this guy that much money for the next two years, or do I want to get younger?" I knew, when they brought in Luka Dončić, that they wanted to start fresh. Shaquille O'Neal
Dončić, meanwhile, has become the focal point of Los Angeles' plans, with the organization using the offseason to reshape the team around him.
James chose a different path by heading to Philadelphia, where he continues his pursuit of another championship in the twilight of his career.
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