LeBron James is expected to opt into his $52.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers for the upcoming season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Charania revealed this on the Pat McAfee Show, noting that James has a player option ranging from $54 to $57 million. His decision deadline is June 29, giving him about a month to decide.
Charania also mentioned that difficult discussions are anticipated between James and the Lakers regarding the team’s competitiveness. James, who is in the second year of a two-year, $101,355,998 contract, aims to remain in a competitive environment, whether he plays one more season or several.
In his 22nd NBA season and seventh with the Lakers, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, shooting 51.3% from the field, earning him All-NBA second-team honors.
This season saw significant changes for the Lakers, including the hiring of JJ Redick as head coach and the drafting of James’ son, Bronny James, with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Bronny spent much of the season alternating between the NBA and the G League.
Additionally, the Lakers acquired Luka Dončić in a trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. The team secured the third seed in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record but were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.