NBA Insider Says LeBron James 'Hates Boston,' Would Likely Rank Celtics '30th' on Free Agency list

ESPN's Brian Windhorst thinks LeBron James would rather play his 24th NBA season for any other franchise than the Boston Celtics.

"I think Boston would rank 30th on his list. I really, honestly do," Windhorst said around the 40:40 mark of Friday's Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast. "He hates Boston."

ESPN's Shams Charania previously reported the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers are top contenders to sign James this offseason.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors are also in the running to sign the NBA's all-time leading scorer, per Charania.

Having the Celtics at the bottom of his list would be notable given that Tyrese Haliburton told reporters Thursday at Fanatics Fest in New York James had responded to his pitch to join the Indiana Pacers with two laughing emojis.

Charania previously named the Warriors as a top frontrunner to sign James. The Sixers seemingly leapfrogged the Warriors as a favorite after acquiring former Celtics star Jaylen Brown.

Brown served as the Celtics' primary offensive star for most of last season amid Jayson Tatum's recovery from an Achilles injury.

Tatum will now be tasked with leading a Celtics starting lineup potentially staffed by Derrick White and Baylor Scheierman alongside former Sixers star Paul George and former New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson.

James' agent Rich Paul, when making a whiteboard outlining possible landing spots for his client in an episode of his podcast earlier this month, listed Tatum and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens as reasons James might be drawn to the Celtics.

What this Celtics starting lineup looks like might not impact James' decision one way or another.

James said in a July 2022 appearance on The Shop podcast he hates playing in front of Boston crowds more than any other fanbase in the NBA.

Paul has reportedly been requesting team executives send him voice memos to make their case as to why James should play for their team, per Charania. It sounds like any potential pitch from the Celtics might not be enough to overcome James' preference to play elsewhere.