The Denver Nuggets were one of the teams in the mix for LeBron James, as Rich Paul said himself, but they might already be out of the running, at least unofficially. On Monday, ESPN's Shams Charania listed the teams in the lead for the 41-year-old: Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, Philadelphia, and Minnesota.
Discussing a LeBron James decision inching closer for NBA Today: pic.twitter.com/cin2LRhZii
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 13, 2026
Charania noted that front offices will continue to have conversations with Paul this week (and the insider did emphasize LeBron wants to be where he can win a title), so maybe Denver has a shot at a late comeback. Still, it's not looking good for the Nuggets, given they're not in the top five at this stage, two weeks into free agency.
Charania doesn't list Nuggets as a leading suitor for LeBron
Even with Denver initially listed as one of the teams in the mix for James, it would've been surprising (and still very much would be) if he chose the Nuggets as his next team. It's not that he couldn't win a title with Nikola Jokić, but more so that it'd be hard to see him pick the Mile High City as his final NBA destination (though the shorter flight to LA does count for something!), especially with a return to Cleveland or Miami on the table, two organizations he has history with.
If he does stay in the West, it feels like it will be with the Warriors, teaming up with Steph Curry, but Shams did list the Timberwolves as a leading suitor. Just like with Denver, it'd be hard to see LeBron picking Minnesota, but you can't deny that the basketball fit would make sense. For the Nuggets' sake, let's hope he doesn't end up anywhere close to Minneapolis.
Whatever happens, it shouldn't take James too much longer to decide. You could probably even go so far as to say that he has a good sense of what he wants to do. Given that the next NBA contract he signs could be his last, though, LeBron seems to be taking his time to weigh all of his options, which is understandable.
Maybe Denver is still one of the teams at the top of his mind, and if not, perhaps that will change. If it's about his happiness and being in a position to win another championship, the Nuggets should be up there. If you go off what Charania said, that's not the case, but hey, nothing is official yet.
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