Basketball: Lebron James looking to opt in for a 23rd season

It looks like LeBron James is gearing up for what would be his 23rd season in the NBA, showing no clear signs of stepping away from the game just yet. According to a report by ESPN’s Shams Charania, shared on The Pat McAfee Show, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar is expected to exercise his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season. That 23rd season also lends itself to a juicy moniker, given the comparisons to the greatest of all time debate with the one who wore number 23 – Michael Jordan.

“I’m told he’s likely to opt in,” Charania revealed. “He has a massive player option. That’s the plan for now. His deadline is June 29, so he still has a few weeks to make the final decision.” Charania also emphasized that LeBron and the Lakers organization will need to engage in some honest conversations about the future and the team’s direction. With his career winding down, James wants to make sure he’s in a winning environment, whether he plays just one more season or several.

The Lakers are coming off a disappointing first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who eliminated them in five games. After the loss, the 40-year-old James was non-committal about his future, saying he needed time to reflect. “I don’t have the answer to that,” James said in his postgame interview. “It’s something I’ll sit down and talk about with my wife and my support group. I’ll have some conversations with myself too, about how much longer I want to keep playing. I honestly don’t know right now.”

Despite the uncertainty, James has not publicly hinted at retirement, and fans have remained hopeful that he will return. If he does come back, he will officially break the record he currently shares with Vince Carter for most seasons played in NBA history. He’s also closing in on Robert Parish’s all-time record of 1,611 regular-season games, needing just 49 more to pass him. LeBron already holds the record for most playoff games played, with 292.

This past season didn’t deliver the championship results James has been chasing. The mid-season trade that brought Luka Doncic to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis didn’t immediately lead to the kind of chemistry needed to push deep into the postseason. Still, the potential of a LeBron-Doncic pairing, along with another compelling reason to return — playing alongside his son Bronny — could factor into his decision.

Bronny James, who made history this year as part of the first father-son duo to ever play together in the NBA, had a promising rookie campaign. While his minutes were limited, he showed flashes of potential. LeBron called playing with his son the greatest achievement of his career and has voiced his support for Bronny taking on a larger role next season.

Even as he nears his 41st birthday, LeBron continues to perform at an elite level. In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 24.4 points per game — the lowest since his rookie year, but still impressive — along with 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds. Clearly, the King still has plenty left in the tank.

Reno Silva/MS