LeBron James reportedly plans on remaining with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season via his $52.6 million player option.
"I'm told he's likely to opt in," ESPN's Shams Charania said during an appearance on Tuesday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show. "… That's likely, that's the plan."
Earlier this month, James made it clear he hadn't made a decision about his future.
"I haven't had the conversation with the family yet as far as me going forward or whatever the case may be," he said during an episode of Mind the Game with Steve Nash (35:25 mark). "But we'll see what happens."
On the one hand, James will turn 41 years old next season and just suffered a knee injury during the team's first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has nothing left to prove and would have been one of the greatest players in NBA history if he retired a decade ago.
Given that reality, him retiring would seem perfectly reasonable.
On the other hand, $52.6 million is a lot of money. And picking up that option means another opportunity to play with his son, Bronny, on the most famous franchise in the league.
He also played at a high level this past season as an All-NBA Second Team selection who averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from deep.
James may not be quite as dominant as he was at his peak, but he still helped lead the Lakers to the playoffs as one of the best players in the league even in his 22nd season.
It seems like he will look to do the same in his 23rd campaign as well.
Comments
Post a Comment