LeBron James has decided to play in a record 23rd NBA season after exercising a player option worth $53 million for the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
His agent, Rich Paul, confirmed that James is targeting a fifth championship with the Lakers. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all,” Paul told reporters.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, currently shares the record for most seasons played with eight-time All-Star Vince Carter.
He is just 50 games shy of breaking Robert Parish’s record for most regular-season games played, with 1,562 appearances under his belt. In 2023, James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing points record of 38,387, and his current tally stands at 42,184.
The 40-year-old forward has had an illustrious career, starting with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. He won two titles with the Miami Heat and led Cleveland to their only NBA title in 2016.
Since joining the Lakers in 2018, James has won one title and been named NBA Finals MVP four times. Notably, his 20-year-old son Bronny was drafted by the Lakers in 2024, and they became the first father-son duo to share the court in an NBA game.
“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future,” Paul said. “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.” This decision marks another milestone in James’s remarkable career, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history.