India celebrates the annual Rath Yatra chariot festival, in photos

Devotees across India celebrate the annual Rath Yatra, one of the world’s oldest and largest religious processions. Idols of Hindu deities are carried through the streets on elaborately decorated chariots.

Devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) pull a rath (chariot) during the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity lord Jagannath in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Indian devotees raise their hands to receive offerings as they participate in the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity Lord Jagannath, in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

A child, centre, dressed as Hindu deity Jagannath travel on a chariot as they participate in a religious procession during the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Hindu devotees perform on street as they join the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Indian mahouts sit on decorated elephants outside the Lord Jagannath temple on the eve of the annual Rath Yatra or chariot procession of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

A Hindu devotee carries Hindu god Krishna on his head as he joins the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Indian devotees participate in the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity Lord Jagannath, in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

Children dressed as Hindu deities Rama and wife Sita, Lakshman and monkey god Hanuman travel on a chariot as they participate in a religious procession during the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Hindu devotees sing and dance on a street decorated with coloured powder during the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

A Hindu devotee carrying prayer beads inside a bag while participating in the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity lord Jagannath in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Body builders flex their muscles as they participate in the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity Lord Jagannath, in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

Hindu devotees cheer as they participate in the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

An ambulance is surrounded by pilgrims during the annual Hindu chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, in Puri, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ananya Das)

A Hindu devotee performs a ritual on the road during the Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, carrying the Hindu deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, in Kolkata, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

An artist performs as devotees pull a rath (chariot) during the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra procession in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) pull a rath (chariot) during the annual chariot procession of Hindu deity lord Jagannath in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

NEW YORK (AP) — If LeBron James knows where he will play this coming season, he's still not saying.

The NBA's career scoring king and current free agent spoke publicly for the first time in weeks Thursday afternoon, indicating that a decision is close — though stopping short of revealing which team he'll choose to play for this fall, despite at least one cry from someone in a jampacked room shouting for him to “pick a team.”

“I won’t hold you guys up too much longer," James said.

The four-time NBA champion had a pair of appearances Thursday: He recorded an episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast alongside guest co-host Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers in New York on the opening day of Fanatics Fest, then spoke at the Game Plan Summit presented by CNBC and Boardroom later in the afternoon.

At the summit, he told Boardroom co-founder Rich Kleiman in an on-stage conversation that making this decision has a slew of layers — many of which, it seems, are off the court.

“It’s not just about the team,” James said. “There’s so many other factors that I’m factoring in right now on what best fits me as a player, what best fits me as a person and what best fits my happiness, and also my family as well.”

At Fanatics Fest, an 11-year-old in the crowd asked James about free agency and his next team — “first of all, that was a hell of a question and some of the media people here probably should learn from the young fella," James said — and the youngster got perhaps the best answer of the session, with James indicating that the 2026-27 season may not necessarily be his last as a player.

“It's a big decision for not only myself, but for my family as well,” James said. “Just for the last part of my career and where I want to spend the last few years or the last year or the last two years of my NBA career ... I'm going to try to fit into whatever team I'm going into — but also give them all the tools and give them all the knowledge that I've been able to grasp over the last 23 years. I know the game. I know the ins and outs of the game of basketball.”

James playfully chided Haliburton for asking him about his future — “didn’t we talk about this in the back?” James asked, and Haliburton said he would ”leave it alone.”

Of course, they didn't leave it alone. James made reference to a slew of teams such as Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia and Golden State, though didn't appear to give much in the way of hints. He did sip from a bottle of red wine that he opened and shared with Haliburton, calling it one of his podcast traditions.

And when fans shouted out suggestions for James' next team — one even asked him to play for the New York Yankees — no clues were forthcoming.

“We'll see,” he said.

James is the NBA’s oldest active player at 41 and the only player in league history to have a career spanning 23 seasons; this coming season will be his 24th. Speculation has been rampant for more than two months about his future, officially starting in May when the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs.

At that time, James said he didn’t know what he would be doing.

And the only developments that he’s revealed since came on June 30, when he said he would play this coming season and that he was leaving the Lakers after an eight-season run highlighted by the 2020 NBA title.

For more than two weeks, the NBA has been waiting to hear what comes next. James, as he did in a social media post at the time, lauded his time with the Lakers, who also offered him well wishes as he moves forward.

“I spent eight great years with the Los Angeles Lakers,” James said.

James’ resume is beyond compare in NBA history. He’s a 22-time All-Star, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a four-time Most Valuable Player, a four-time NBA Finals MVP, a three-time All-Star Game MVP, and was a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.

He’s also coming off a season where he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. For his career, he’s averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists in more than 1,600 games.

James started his career in Cleveland in 2003 and spent seven seasons with the Cavaliers before heading to Miami for four seasons — where he won his first two titles. He then returned to Cleveland for four more seasons, leaving in 2018 to start an eight-season run with the Lakers.

Cleveland and Miami are believed to be on James' radar again as he weighs this decision, as are several other teams including Philadelphia, Minnesota and Golden State.

“I’m looking forward to what comes next as I wind down my journey,” James said.

Reynolds reported from Miami.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

FILE - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James throws chalk in the air before an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)