Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has decided to take his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, according to Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, who spoke with ESPN on Sunday.
As the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, James is eager to compete for a championship next season and possibly in the future. Paul mentioned that he will keep a close eye on the Lakers’ actions this offseason to see if the team is shaping up to create a roster that can contend for a title.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are planning for the future, and he respects that. However, he also values having a real chance to win it all. We are very thankful for our eight-year partnership with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka], and we see the Lakers as an important part of his career.”
“We recognize how tough it is to win now while also preparing for what’s ahead. We want to figure out what is best for LeBron at this point in his life and career. He aims to make every remaining season count, and the Lakers understand that; they support him and want what’s best for him.”
At 40 years old, James is about to begin his record-setting 23rd NBA season. He has expressed uncertainty about whether he plans to play just one more year or several additional seasons.
James, who has a no-trade clause in his contract, is just 50 games away from breaking Robert Parish’s record for the most career regular-season games played. Next season, he will surpass Vince Carter for the most seasons played in NBA history.
It’s still uncertain if James will continue into his 24th season or further. Recently, he had dinner in New York with his wife Savannah, Miami Heat player Kevin Love and his wife Kate, along with some close friends. During the dinner, one of the guests shared a clip on Instagram where James mentioned, “[Savannah] wants me to f—ing retire in the next year or so.”
As Paul pointed out, it’s unclear how much longer James will stay with the Lakers, despite his previous comments.
In February 2024, when the Warriors showed interest in trading for him before the Lakers told Golden State they weren’t interested through Paul, James made it clear that he wanted to keep playing for Los Angeles.
“I am a Laker and I’ve been very happy being a Laker for the last six years. I hope it stays that way,” said James.
A few months later, Los Angeles drafted his eldest son, Bronny James, with the No. 55 pick to create a historic father-son duo and then signed LeBron James to a two-year contract extension worth $104 million in July 2024.
James is a four-time NBA champion, has won the Finals MVP award four times, and has also been named league MVP four times. He has made 21 All-Star teams and 21 All-NBA selections, becoming the first player at age 40 to be named to an All-NBA team. He joined the Lakers in 2018 and helped them win the NBA championship in 2020 and reach the Western Conference finals in 2023.
This past season, he averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game, ending his impressive streak of averaging at least 25 points for 20 consecutive years. From December 30 until the end of the season, he was one of three players who averaged at least 25 points, along with 7 rebounds and 7 assists; the others were Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic.
After suffering a sprained MCL in his left knee during Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, James returned to basketball activities this week. In that series against Minnesota, he averaged 25.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, along with 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks over an average of nearly 41 minutes per game.
Following their loss to Minnesota, he expressed his disappointment about missing out on the opportunity to compete for a fifth championship title.
“Every time I didn’t reach the Finals or win the championship, it felt like a letdown,” James stated. “So, it would be the same for me this time. It would just be another offseason of disappointment and not feeling fulfilled, especially when you have a chance to play longer and compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Nothing changes for me.”
When asked about the Lakers’ clear need for a center after coach JJ Redick chose not to start big man Jaxson Hayes and ended the Minnesota series with a smaller lineup, James held back his thoughts.
He mentioned that he should keep his opinions private, referring to the Lakers’ trade of Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks on February 1, which happened just nine days after Davis told ESPN, “I think we need another big.”
“I have no comment,” James replied. “I never say that. My guy AD expressed what we needed, and then he was gone the following week. So I really have no comment.”
The Lakers are looking to add a center through free agency or trade, while forward Dorian Finney-Smith turned down his player option on Sunday, according to sources.
