Will he stay or will he go? That is the question on the minds of Los Angeles Lakers fans regarding LeBron James and his future in Hollywood. There is only one certainty and that was outlined plainly by ESPN's Bobby Marks in a recent write-up.
Marks wrote, "The only guarantee is that James will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, and if he does play an unprecedented 24th season, it will likely be with a team that can win a championship."
The ESPN insider reminded everyone that 2025-26 will be the first time in James' long career that the future Hall of Famer will not be under contract, to some capacity, for the following season. LeBron has previously operated with either a guaranteed deal, player option, or extension eligibility.
Marks then referred back to the infamous Rich Paul statement that was made to Shams Charania after James picked up his player option for the 2025-26 NBA season. While LeBron carefully weighs his future next summer, the Lakers will take their time to do the same.
LeBron James future will be dictated by Lakers' upcoming season
If James were to be seriously considering retirement after the end of the upcoming season, it would be likely that everyone would have heard about it by now. It does not fit the style of the four-time champion to just disappear without some fanfare.
The most probable of circumstances would be the Lakers and James getting to the summer of 2026 with their union temporarily broken. That does not mean that will be the final chapter for both sides working together.
Rob Pelinka has prioritized his optionality in building around Luka Doncic. However, if the July 2026 comes and James is still the best piece on the board that can be paired with Doncic, there is no sense in splitting up just yet from the Lakers' perspective.
At that point, it becomes a matter of whether Los Angeles still makes sense for LeBron.
Doncic was of the impression that the Lakers have enough to compete for a championship this season. Everything coming out of James' camp during this summer makes him sound less convinced of that idea.
If James sees a greener pasture, at this late stage of his career, and has a better opportunity to chase a ring before retirement, can anyone really blame him for leaving?
The best way of continuing this partnership for all sides would be winning. A promising run in the 2026 NBA Playoffs would make this conversation a brief one when next summer comes. Unlike the film industry in Hollywood, the less drama here, the better.