LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — NBA superstar LeBron James will return for an unprecedented 24th season but not with the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that rocked the league on Tuesday as free agency opened. "Truly an honour to wear the (purple and gold) while trying to continue the greatness and legacies that came before me," James, the league's all-time leading scorer, said in a post on X, replying to a "thank you" post from Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss. "Hope I made a few proud during my stint," he added.