LeBron James Opts In: Stays With Lakers Next Season! What It Means

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By: Mike

As the free agency period approaches on June 30, LeBron James has finalized his plans regarding his contract option with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season.

LeBron’s representative, Rich Paul, announced on Sunday to ESPN that the basketball icon has decided to exercise his player option to remain with the Lakers, donned in their signature purple and gold. By opting in, LeBron will earn $52.6 million for the next season and will avoid entering the free agency market that begins on Monday.

At 40, LeBron is nearing what many believe to be the twilight of his illustrious NBA career, yet he remains focused on contending for more championships. He is set to pay close attention to how the Lakers manage their team dynamics this offseason, as reported by Charania. This interest comes especially after the Lakers made a stunning move earlier in the year by trading Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. Although this reshuffling brought some success, the Lakers were ousted from the playoffs in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

LeBron’s performance last season remained impressive, with averages of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists over 70 games, securing yet another All-NBA season. With a significant offseason ahead, all eyes, including LeBron’s, are on the Lakers to see what moves they will make next.


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