The Los Angeles Lakers received a major update from LeBron James today, as the 40-year-old NBA legend accepted a $52.6 million player option on his contract to be on the books for the 2025-26 season.
This should be good news for the Lakers, who can now build their team around Luka Doncic and LeBron, but it seems like James' agent Rich Paul's comments after this decision might have cast a shadow over LeBron's future.
Shams Charania went on SportsCenter and revealed some crucial comments made by Rich Paul to him after James opted in for next season, emphasizing the Lakers need to build for the long-term with the revelation that James' finishing his career in LA isn't guaranteed.
"He wants to compete for a championship next season. He's uncertain about the Lakers' roster moving forward."
"I understand that James is supportive of the Lakers' positioning themselves around Luka Doncic and building around the future... (Rich Paul) also told me that the franchise will do what's best for them in the long term."
"This adds an interesting wrinkle in free agency. LeBron James is evaluating how he wants to finish his career."
LeBron averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists last season, making the All-Star and All-NBA teams. He's clearly still among the best players in the NBA, even though he can't single-handedly carry teams to the Finals like he could in his prime.
Playing alongside a talent like Doncic could help him extend his career by becoming arguably one of the best off-ball threats in the NBA, but it seems that might not suffice for LeBron.
He's a Laker right now, but after a series of blockbuster trades already rocking the NBA in the last few weeks, it seems a lot more activity will soon take place in the coming months.