LeBron James has picked up his $52.6M player option with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania:
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is exercising his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN on Sunday. James, the NBA’s career scoring leader, wants to compete for a championship next season and potentially beyond and will be closely monitoring the Lakers’ moves and whether the team is positioning itself this offseason to field a title-contending roster, Paul said. “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 [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.
The public pronouncement by James’ agent and longtime associate Rich Paul demanding the Lakers make other moves is not typical for most player option pickups or free agent signings, but it’s unsurprising for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer who has always moved less silently than lasagna.
James, 40, has the NBA’s 17th-largest contract by annual value, a contract which is in its last year and has a no-trade clause.
Earlier this month, our own Adrian Bernecich wrote that the Lakers and Blazers would make good partners on a Deandre Ayton deal, and there were reports that the Lakers have called the Blazers about Robert WIlliams III. Both possibilities may look even more appealing to Portland after drafting 7’2” center Yang Hansen with the 16th overall pick in this year’s NBA draft.