Visualizing LeBron James leaving the Los Angeles Lakers to join the Golden State Warriors requires tuning out financial implications, a hyperactive imagination, and prolonged suspension of disbelief. Too many reasons why it can't happen. Won't happen. Shouldn't happen. But rumors of a potential Warriors-LeBron union won't die, and one of the reasons it lives is that none of the principal figures is going on the record to kill it. And some are saying off the record that it cannot be dismissed. With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! I know it seems crazy, one well-connected league source told NBC Sports Bay Area on Wednesday. But there is at least curiosity on both sides. This wouldn't even be a conversation five or six years ago, and it might not happen now, but there's enough there that we shouldn't ignore the possibility. It's mostly up to LeBron. The general belief is that James likely will remain in Los Angeles, where he can continue to play alongside his son, Bronny, and stay close to his family. The Lakers can offer a considerably larger contract than Golden State, which tops out at the non-taxpayer midlevel exception of about $15 million. Many other factors keep supplying oxygen to the speculation, from the mutual respect between Stephen Curry and James, along with Steve Kerr's deep appreciation for smart players. There also is the proximity of the Bay Area to James' home and business infrastructure in greater LA. There is another factor, however, that won't leave my mind: Attempting a feat never accomplished has a seductive appeal for alpha competitors like Steph and LeBron. No team with its top four players averaging more than 35 years of age has won the NBA Finals. Curry and James have built legendary careers by defying realistic expectations. Steph, selected seventh overall by the Warriors in the 2009 NBA Draft, is the only unanimous MVP winner in league history and the engine within a once-forlorn franchise becoming a global icon. James entered the league as a teenager advertised as the next superstar and has exceeded that. He's the all-time leader in games, minutes, and points, top five in assists, and top 25 in rebounding. At age 40 in 2024-25, he still was putting up MVP-like numbers. Once bitter rivals in four consecutive NBA Finals, Curry and James have since bonded over shared greatness and as teammates on Team USA basketball. Their competitive fires continue to burn, and they still enjoy beating each other. But when elite athletes see the sun setting on their careers, they better understand they share a bigger community. Different teams, same society. Their hearts tend to find enough room for appreciation. James went on record years ago saying he likes the idea of playing with Curry. Curry has not fully reciprocated, not yet, but a meeting is expected, according to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points. Knowing Steph's thirst for playing meaningful basketball, he'd listen to any move that would bolster the Warriors. Is that enough for Curry to gather influential teammates Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green – one of LeBron's best friends – to make a recruiting pitch? Probably. The least that can happen is no agreement. The most that can happen is James rocking the world by working out a deal.