LeBron James has made his decision, and he's putting the Lakers on notice in the process.
James is exercising his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers for the 2025-26 NBA season, his agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN's Shams Charania on Sunday. But with that comes the expectation that the team, which was recently sold in a record-breaking $10 billion deal, will put together a roster that can compete for a championship while planning for the future around Luka Doncic .
Paul issued a statement to Charania that hints at a potential push for a trade if James doesn't like what he sees from GM Rob Pelinka this offseason.
LeBron James (23) is expected to exercise his $52.6 million player option. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
"LeBron wants to compete for a championship," 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 and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.
"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."
The Lakers' options for upgrading their roster are limited as they try to win one more championship with the 40-year-old James, whose playing future is a constant question given his age, despite continuing to perform at a high level.
ESPN reported Saturday that James is not entering next season, his 23rd in the league, with the idea it will be his last.
During a live taping of "The Shop" last weekend at Fanatics Fest, James was coy about when he would retire , only stating the obvious: "I can't play that much further."
He did joke that 7-foot-3 Spurs stat Victor Wembanyama , who was on stage with James, could force him out of the league.
"The more and more time that I play," James said, "as long as [Wembanyama] keeps smacking my f–king shots into the stands, it's going to make me retire."
LeBron James (r.) and Victor Wembanyama (l.) at Fanatics Fest on June 21, 2025. Getty Images
James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds during the 2024-25 regular season.
The Lakers, after acquiring Luka Doncic from the Mavericks for Anthony Davis in a seismic midseason trade, earned the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference at 50-32 but lost to the Timberwolves 4-1 in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
James suffered an MCL sprain during the final game of the series.
He just returned to on-court activities after working out with his son, Bronny , whom the Lakers picked No. 55 overall in last year's draft.
Bronny James (l.) and dad LeBron (r.) NBAE via Getty Images
Bronny made 27 NBA appearances as a rookie, averaging 2.7 points, while spending time in the G League.
Doncic and James didn't click quickly as teammates, but they'll have another chance to progress this season as James continues his quest for his fifth championship while Doncic seeks his first.
The Lakers will obviously plan to build around Doncic moving forward, but as long as James is still in the picture, they will look to make complementary moves in the offseason to build their way to competing for the NBA Finals immediately.
