LeBron James made his choice. He opted into his $52.6 million contract for the 2025–26 season, securing the money he has absolutely earned over two decades of excellence. In doing so, he may have made the Lakers’ next move inevitable.
Dan Woike, on The Zach Lowe Show, said it plainly, “LeBron doesn’t take less money.” It is not in his history, and it was not in the cards this summer. That is his right.
A pay cut is a touchy subject for LeBron
There is no doubt that James is still performing at a ridiculously high level. Last season, even at age 40, he was able to finish sixth in MVP voting, and find his way on the All-NBA Second Team. The issue is in this new NBA, max money and max winning do not always live in the same building.
This summer is the first under the league’s fully enforced second apron rules. The second apron is a hard line that punishes high-spending teams with severe restrictions.
Being above the apron means that your team loses the ability to build around stars the way they used to. Do it too many times, and the draft penalties start stacking up.
Lakers navigating new NBA reality
With LeBron’s deal on the books, their flexibility shrinks. And with Luka Doncic entering his prime, the front office can’t afford to miss windows.
The tension is clear: LeBron wants to win another title. And the thing is, so do the Lakers. Unfortunately, building a title team around a 41-year-old on a max contract, under these rules, is one of the hardest jobs in the league.
There was some hope that LeBron might meet the moment with a longer-term vision, perhaps by accepting a slightly lower salary in exchange for a player option in 2026–27. That option would have given him control while giving the Lakers a little breathing room. Instead, he took the full figure and locked it in for one year only.
James' decision might have ended the long-term continuity with Lakers
Without that extra year, and with 2027 projected to be a major cap-space opportunity, Los Angeles can now plan for a post-LeBron pivot. It will be one that aligns more cleanly with Doncic’s timeline and avoids the financial gridlock.
LeBron’s legacy in L.A. is secure. He has won a championship. He has had multiple deep playoff runs.
But his own decision, to protect his value, to stay all-in, might quietly mark the beginning of his exit. It is not because the Lakers necessarily want him gone, but because in this new NBA, they might not have a choice.