LeBron James will return to the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025–26 NBA season after opting into his $52.6 million player contract—making him the first player in league history to play 23 seasons.
The decision was confirmed by Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, who told ESPN on Sunday that James, now 40, remains committed to competing for an NBA title.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are looking ahead, but he still values a real shot at winning now,” Paul said. He acknowledged the long-standing partnership with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka, calling the Lakers “a critical part” of James’ storied career.
Although it’s unclear whether James will play beyond next season, Paul emphasized that the star forward is focused on maximizing what time he has left in the league.
James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists over 70 games in the 2024–25 season, ranking within the NBA’s top 22 across all three stats. He is just 50 games shy of surpassing Robert Parish’s all-time record for most regular-season appearances.
The 21-time All-Star, four-time MVP, and four-time NBA champion entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 2003 at just 18 years old.