LeBron James has opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 NBA season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The move guarantees James will return for a 23rd year in the league, extending his record-setting career for at least one more season, but his agent Rich Paul hinted that it may not be with the purple and gold if a better championship opportunity comes along.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” his agent Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
Paul added, “We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”
James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists this past season, helping Los Angeles to a 50-32 finish and the third seed in the West after the blockbuster trade that brought Luka Doncic to L.A. The Lakers’ season ended earlier than hoped, and James has made it clear he wants the team to go all-in while there’s still time.
Behind the scenes, his long-term future in the league remains uncertain. During a recent dinner outing in New York, LeBron was caught on video saying, “[Savannah] wants me to f—ing retire in the next year or so,” referencing his wife Savannah James, according to SportsCenter and confirmed by Shams Charania.
Whether this will be LeBron’s last run remains to be seen. But one thing is clear, he’s not interested in wasting what little time he has left.
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