LeBron James' Lakers plans revealed ahead of NBA free agency
With NBA free agency set to begin on Monday, one major move appears to be locked in.
LeBron James is expected to exercise his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers for the 2025-26 NBA season, ESPN reported on Saturday.
The move will limit the Lakers' options for upgrading their roster as they try to win one more championship with the 40-year-old James, whose playing future is a constant question given his age, despite continuing to perform at a high level.
LeBron James (23) is expected to exercise his $52.6 million player option.
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The ESPN report added that James is not entering next season, his 23rd in the league, with the idea it will be his last.
During a live taping of 'The Shop' last weekend at Fanatics Fest, James was coy about when he would retire, only stating the obvious: 'I can't play that much further.'
He did joke that 7-foot-3 Spurs stat Victor Wembanyama, who was on stage with James, could force him out of the league.
'The more and more time that I play,' James said, 'as long as [Wembanyama] keeps smacking my f–king shots into the stands, it's going to make me retire.'
James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds during the 2024-25 regular season.
The Lakers, after acquiring Luka Doncic from the Mavericks for Anthony Davis in a seismic midseason trade, earned the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference at 50-32 but lost to the Timberwolves 4-1 in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
James suffered an MCL sprain during the final game of the series.
Bronny James (l.) and dad LeBron (r.)
NBAE via Getty Images
He just returned to on-court activities after working out with his son, Bronny, whom the Lakers picked No. 55 overall in last year's draft.
Bronny made 27 NBA appearances as a rookie, averaging 2.7 points, while spending time in the G League.
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37 minutes ago
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42 minutes ago
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Cap implications of Julius Randle's new contract
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Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ace Bailey says he's 'blessed' to be with the Jazz after he fell to them at No. 5 in the NBA draft
Utah Jazz drafted players, left to right, Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr. and John Tonje pose during the Utah Jazz player introduction press conference, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) Utah Jazz drafted players, left to right, Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr., John Tonje, team owner Ryan Smith, and Austin Ainge, President of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz, pose during the Utah Jazz player introduction press conference Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) Utah Jazz drafted players,left to right, Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr., John Tonje and Austin Ainge, President of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz, pose during the Utah Jazz player introduction press conference Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) Utah Jazz first round fifth overall draft pick Ace Bailey poses during the Utah Jazz player introduction press conference, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) Utah Jazz first round fifth overall draft pick Ace Bailey speaks to the press during the Utah Jazz player introduction press conference, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) Utah Jazz first round fifth overall draft pick Ace Bailey speaks to the press during the Utah Jazz player introduction press conference, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) Utah Jazz drafted players, left to right, Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr. and John Tonje pose during the Utah Jazz player introduction press conference, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) Utah Jazz drafted players, left to right, Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr., John Tonje, team owner Ryan Smith, and Austin Ainge, President of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz, pose during the Utah Jazz player introduction press conference Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) Utah Jazz drafted players,left to right, Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr., John Tonje and Austin Ainge, President of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz, pose during the Utah Jazz player introduction press conference Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) Utah Jazz first round fifth overall draft pick Ace Bailey poses during the Utah Jazz player introduction press conference, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) Utah Jazz first round fifth overall draft pick Ace Bailey speaks to the press during the Utah Jazz player introduction press conference, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah was not believed to be one of Ace Bailey's preferred destinations to start his NBA career. Still, Bailey indicated Sunday that he never thought about holding out or forcing a trade after the Jazz drafted him No. 5 overall. Bailey reported to Utah after he was criticized for his approach to the pre-draft process, during which he refused to work out for teams interested in him. When asked during his introductory news conference if he considered not coming to Salt Lake City, he only expressed enthusiasm for being with the Jazz. Advertisement 'Just blessed to be in the position I am,' Bailey said. Before the draft, Bailey canceled a scheduled workout with Philadelphia and declined invitations from Charlotte and Utah to work out for them. That didn't stop the Jazz from using their lottery pick on him anyway. Utah is betting the 18-year-old will unlock his potential and blossom into a prolific scorer. Joining Bailey in Utah are No. 18 pick Walter Clayton Jr. and No. 53 pick John Tonje, two other high-level scorers. 'This is a dream scenario for us,' Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge said. 'These are guys we targeted before the draft with high potential and high character, and we couldn't be more excited.' Advertisement Ainge believes all three rookies are multi-dimensional players who can make an impact on defense. 'These guys can play on both ends,' Ainge said. 'We're looking for the best combination of all the skills we can. But, yeah, these guys can put the ball in the hole.' Mock drafts had Bailey as a consensus top-three pick before he slid to the Jazz. The 6-foot-8 forward has a versatile offensive game. At Rutgers, Bailey showed he can shoot off the dribble, knock down step-back jumpers and attack the paint. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in his lone season with the Scarlet Knights. Bailey complemented his inside game by stretching defenses with his range, shooting 34.6% from beyond the arc. Advertisement 'I got great energy,' Bailey said. 'I can do everything from rebounding to defense to scoring to passing. So I can say I can bring it a lot in different ways.' Still, concerns about his scoring efficiency, ballhandling, passing, defensive intensity and maturity contributed to Bailey falling out of the top three. He's eager to prove the Jazz made the right choice. 'I trust my work,' Bailey said. 'I (put in) countless hours in the gym with everything that I do. So I trust it. Everybody makes mistakes. God didn't put us here to be perfect. So I just trust myself and just trust my process.' ___ AP NBA:
