LeBron James made headlines by appearing in Saudi Arabia recently, following his playful remarks about potentially playing there in the future amid swirling rumors of a jaw-dropping $1 billion contract offer from a local basketball team. The 38-year-old Lakers icon shared a selfie featuring Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, Bader bin Farhan Alsaud, on his Instagram story, captioned with warm words for his companions.

Accompanied by his agent Maverick Carter and others, James’ visit to Riyadh this week, reportedly for a friendly match at AZM Academy, sparked social media buzz with footage showing him leaving a building surrounded by businessmen.

While Lakers fans can breathe easy about James’ immediate plans, speculation continues about his post-NBA career, with whispers of a lucrative deal with Al-Hilal in the Middle East. Earlier this July, James playfully hinted at his readiness to sprint to Saudi Arabia for the right price, a gesture echoed by other global sports stars like soccer’s Kylian Mbappe and basketball’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Amidst these intriguing prospects, concerns over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record add a complex layer to any potential move for James, contrasting with the recent trend of high-profile athletes relocating there. His eventful summer also included supporting his eldest son, Bronny, during a health scare and enjoying family time at cultural and sporting events.

With two years remaining on his Lakers contract and a keen interest in potentially playing alongside his son in the NBA, LeBron James continues to keep fans and pundits alike guessing about his future moves on and off the court.