LeBron James replies to Tyrese Haliburton’s Pacers pitch

Victor GalvezTue, July 21, 2026 at 12:36 AM UTC·2 min read

Several NBA stars are reportedly doing their best to lure LeBron James to join them, including Tyrese Haliburton. The Indiana Pacers guard revealed that he pitched to him via a text message, and the free agent forward replied to him.

However, it’s not what Haliburton hoped for. James didn’t use words; instead, he sent six emojis to sum up how he feels about taking his talents to Indianapolis

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“LeBron being my teammate isn’t looking good,” Haliburton said. “I texted him, ‘Hey, you should come be a Pacer.’ He responded with six laughing crying faces.”

The Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors reportedly lead the race to secure the 22-time All-Star’s signature. Reports also suggested that money does not influence James’ decision the most, but where he will have the best chance to win his fifth championship.

When will LeBron James announce his new team?

James was initially rumored to make his free agency decision early this month but the NBA world continues to await his announcement. His camp has remained mum on providing an exact time and date.

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Many believe the Heat are the favorites to land him; however, joining Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia is gaining traction. Golden State also has a fighting chance as James shares a strong friendship with Draymond Green and Stephen Curry. It remains to be seen which team he will play for next season, but what’s certain is that his decision will change the league’s landscape.