LeBron James once called it “incredibly exciting”—and he wasn’t exaggerating. The UIM E1 World Championship, the world’s first all-electric powerboat racing series, has been making serious waves since its 2022 announcement. And at a recent owners’ summit, the star power was undeniable.

A photo shared by E1’s official Instagram lit up timelines as legends from across sports and entertainment gathered in one frame. There was LeBron, summer-ready and all smiles, alongside NFL icon Tom Brady, tennis great Rafael Nadal, and singer-actor Marc Anthony. While the team owners radiated unity for the camera, behind the scenes, their squads were deep in competition mode, prepping to outpace one another in the high-speed, high-tech waters of electric racing.

LeBron James’s E1 team, ‘AlUla’, has been finding significant success in the ongoing E1 tournament. His pilots Rusty Wyatt and Catie Munnings placed fourth in Italy’s qualifying round and had earlier secured bronze in Croatia. The first podium finish for ‘AlUla’ came in the Adriatic back in mid-June.

Throughout the E1 season, his team has been going head-to-head with none other than Team Brady. And with Tom Brady’s squad entering as the reigning champions after dominating the inaugural season, the pressure is on.

The heat turned up even more after Virat Kohli’s ‘Blue Rising’ team stole the spotlight by winning the Monaco leg. Now, with rival athletes making serious waves, it’s LeBron’s turn to rally his crew and keep pace. Because in this high-octane battle on water, reputation is riding on more than just horsepower.

While LeBron James and Tom Brady are now professional rivals, it doesn’t change the fact that they have also been friends, as the 7x Super Bowl champion once described, for a very long time. Spending time with a close friend during this ongoing series might just be the remedy that the doctor ordered. After all, along with looking out for ‘AlUla’, the 4x NBA champion would also be concerned about what the future holds for him.

Rachel Nichols highlights LeBron James intentionally creating uncertainty about future: “exactly the LeBron playbook”

The past few weeks have seen LeBron James dominating the NBA headlines as questions have been raised about his future. After opting in to his $52.6 million player option, LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, made it clear the player is willing to leave if the Lakers do not build up to a championship-contending level. The team filling their center gap with the recent acquisition of Deandre Ayton, and rumored to acquire Marcus Smart, should be a positive sign. Despite that, LeBron’s future remains uncertain. If one is to believe Rachel Nichols, however, then the 40-year-old’s ‘desire’ to join another team is just a ruse.

In a recent segment of Sports Illustrated’s ‘Open Floor’ show, the renowned journalist and Chris Mannix touched base on the recent Lakers rumors. During the same, Nichols stated that “To me, this is exactly the LeBron playbook. This is the playbook of LeBron James when he wants to get the team he plays for to do more for him.”

Rachel Nichols has covered LeBron James for long enough to know that “When [James] wants to make a change, he much more quietly makes a change. When he finally wanted to leave Cleveland the second time, there was not a bunch of social media posts. He did not say, ‘Oh, by the way, I’m wearing a Dodgers hat. I just like the Dodgers.’ None of that”.

Remember how the renowned player handled his first exit from the Cleveland Cavaliers, aka the controversial ‘The Decision’? Well, that would have certainly left a mental scar. Therefore, if LeBron James is going public about his desires, then he is simply trying to do his part to force the Lakers to get better. While LeBron can certainly afford to shift (being a billionaire), he has established a life and a home for himself and his family, in Los Angeles. Taking a risk to join another franchise, at the age of 40, is a big one.

At this point, no one knows what LeBron’s future will look like. Therefore, while the NBA star himself is taking a break with Tom Brady and others, his fans and NBA analysts should also take a break from all the speculation. It would be healthy for all.