LeBron James is closely monitoring the Lakers’ offseason moves after opting into his $52.6M player option for the 2025–26 season.
LeBron James might have opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025–26 season, but that doesn’t mean the Los Angeles Lakers star is fully locked in.
LeBron James
LeBron James
Position: SF
Age: 40
Height: 203 cm
Weight: 113 kg
Birth place: Akron, United States of America
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James is still monitoring the team’s offseason activity closely as he weighs how competitive the Lakers truly are heading into what could be the final stretch of his career.
"I'm told that the statement that Rich Paul gave to Shams Charania back in June when LeBron opted in still stands, that LeBron and his representatives will be monitoring the Lakers' moves that they make because they recognize that there's only a very limited amount of time left in his career and he wants to be competing for championships," McMenamin reported on NBA Today.
James' longtime agent Rich Paul was clear when speaking to Shams Charania after LeBron picked up his option.
"LeBron wants to compete for a championship," Paul said. "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."
Coming off a 50–32 regular season, the Lakers fell short in the playoffs, suffering a first-round exit in five games against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
That result left questions about the roster’s ability to contend, especially with LeBron still aiming for another title before calling it a career.
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