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LeBron James has chosen to exercise his $52.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season. This decision confirms that he will make history as the first player in the NBA to embark on a 23rd season, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity since neither James nor the team made a formal announcement.
Initial reports from outlets such as ESPN and The Athletic highlighted this decision.
In a statement to ESPN, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul remarked on James’s choice to opt into his contract, noting, “LeBron understands that the Lakers are planning for the future, but he also values having a genuine opportunity to compete for a championship.”
Recently, James resumed on-court workouts after a brief recovery period following a knee ligament sprain sustained during the Lakers’ final playoff game last season. He told the Associated Press earlier this month that he anticipated being fully prepared for training camp, a clear indication of his intention to play for a 23rd season, which will set a new record for longevity in the league, surpassing Vince Carter.
Speaking about his recovery, James mentioned, “I have ample time to focus on my knee, my overall health, and ensure that I’m nearly fully fit by the time training camp kicks off in late September.”
Any lingering uncertainty regarding the NBA’s oldest active player—about whether he would return for another season—has been put to rest. He had until Sunday afternoon to confirm his player option, which increases his career earnings to approximately $580 million.
Next season will be the first full year James plays alongside Luka Doncic. Doncic joined the Lakers from the Mavericks in February, but the team, which concluded the regular season as the No. 3 seed in a highly competitive Western Conference, was eliminated in the first round by Minnesota.
As James approaches his 41st birthday in December, he boasts a remarkable record of being selected to the All-NBA team in 21 out of 22 seasons, earning a second-round selection last season. No player has achieved more than 15 All-NBA honors.
In the previous season, he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists. The all-time scoring leader, James has participated in 1,562 regular-season games, just 49 short of Robert Parish’s record of 1,611 for the most in NBA history. If he remains healthy, James is expected to surpass this milestone in the upcoming season.
