LeBron James’ Future With Lakers Gets Major Update

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated May 4, 2025 1:27 PM ET

LeBron James has a player option worth $52.6 million for next season to return to the Los Angeles Lakers. The leading scorer in NBA history would become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declined his 2025-26 option.

The Lakers were projected to compete for the championship this year after acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in February. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves beat Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs in five quick games.

James is 40 years old. He's the oldest active player in the NBA. The basketball legend averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists during the 2024-25 regular season and 25.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists in the Lakers-Timberwolves series.

Some believe James should leave the Lakers this summer because the franchise has won only one championship with him. However, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, Doncic and James are expected to be teammates again next season.

"He’s not going to be easy to trade at $52 million," Stein said on the "ALL NBA" podcast. "I don’t see him leaving $52 million on the table and just taking a much lower salary to go to the team of his choice. It’s too early in the game really to give you a clear-cut answer on it, but I would say at this point, it is more likely than not that Luka and LeBron will be back together as Lakers next season."

James joined the Lakers in 2018 after playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-15 to 2017-18. Los Angeles missed the postseason in 2019, won the championship in 2020, lost in the first round of the 2021 postseason, missed the postseason in 2022, lost in the conference finals in 2023 and lost in the first round of the 2024 and 2025 playoffs.

James, who turns 41 in December, is a four-time MVP, a four-time champion and a four-time Finals MVP. He has played for the Cavaliers (twice), Miami Heat and Lakers.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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