LeBron James Exercising His $52.6 Million Player Option For 2025-2026 Season
He’s been playing the game for a long time, since he was still a teenager. Now the 40 year old is approaching his 23rd season and is tied with Vince Carter for the most seasons (22) played in NBA history. But he’s not ready to walk away from the game just yet. Therefore, LeBron James is exercising his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-2026 season.
Furthermore, Lebron James’ longevity last season provided an awesome treat for basketball fans. It was great when LeBron James Jr. was a second-round pick by the Lakers last summer. Making LeBron and his son the first father-son duo to play together at the same time in NBA history.
No doubt that was an emotional and happy milestone in James’ life and career. But he still has another career aspiration in mind. He wants to compete for another NBA championship. This was confirmed by NBA Insider Shams Charania when he posted:
“Breaking: Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James is opting into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN. Paul adds: LeBron ‘knows the Lakers are building for the future … but he values a realistic chance of winning it all.’
‘LeBron wants to compete for a championship,’ Paul told ESPN. ‘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.
We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.’”
Currently he is a four-time NBA Champion having won it all in 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2020. But clearly the king is still hungry for more.
LeBron James Exercising His $52.6 Million Player Option For 2025-2026 Season
We now know he wants to participate in a record-breaking 23rd season but if he can continue beyond that we don’t know. His wife Savannah has made it known that she would prefer that he retires. But James expressed his desire to remain a Laker back in February 2024. “I am a Laker, and I’m happy and been very happy being a Laker the last six years and hopefully it stays that way,” James said.
Last season James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game. He was one of three players to average 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists from Dec. 30 to the end of the season, along with Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. So he still can ball but will it be enough to lead the Lakers to another championship? We’ll have to wait and see.
**Want Even More Sports, News, Hot Takes, Stats as well as Athlete Celebrity Sighting Updates; Insights as well as Trends? Well, be sure to join all of us Sports Feens over on Youtube to get an additional sports fix; and also don’t forget to check out all of our new Podcast topics and episodes. Plus, get fast highlights and trivia daily by following us on TikTok. Just Click HERE**
Thoughts on LeBron James exercising his $52.6 million player option For 2025-2026 Season? Well let’s connect! We are always around on social media posting as well as chatting away. And we would love to hear some POV from you. Therefore, join the discussion and talk all things Sports Feen; athletics as well as breaking industry news related with us by dropping a comment or two. Get into our comment section on YT; or also hit us up on our TikTok page or tweet us @SportsFeen.
