LeBron James may be 40 and a four-time NBA champion, but he’s still eyeing another title shot as he has exercised his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season and is also observing the Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason targets.
Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, who is James’ manager and longtime friend, told ESPN about the NBA’s all-time leading scorer’s decision and his plans for next season. Paul said James is keen on being a championship contender next season, adding that he is also checking the Lakers’ activities to ascertain if the franchise also aligns with his vision. James has a no-trade clause with the Lakers.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul said. “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.
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“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 is a man of many firsts, and he could reach another significant milestone in 2025-26 by being the first NBA player to feature in 23 seasons. The billionaire athlete is, however, not sure if he’ll play for just another season or continue for more years.
Per ESPN, James had dinner in New York with his wife, Savannah, his former teammate Kevin Love and his spouse, and other close associates last week. One of the dinner attendees is said to have shared an Instagram video that showed James talking about his wife wanting him to retire soon.
“[Savannah] wants me to f—ing retire in the next year or so,” James said.
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