LeBron James is reportedly staying with the Los Angeles Lakers for the foreseeable future.
James is reportedly planning to sign a two-year, $104 million max contract with the Lakers, less than a day after they signed his son, rookie Bronny James, to a two-year guaranteed contract. The deal includes a player option and a no-trade clause, keeping him tied to LA for the next few years.
James opted out of his previous contract on Saturday, and his agent Rich Paul told ESPN that James was willing to discuss a deal below the maximum he was eligible for to allow general manager Rob Pelinka to sign an “impact player.”
The 39-year-old is the oldest active player in the NBA but shows few signs of slowing down: James averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 35 minutes per game in the 2023-24 season.
James joined the Lakers in 2018, signing a four-year, $154 million contract. He signed a two-year, $97.1 million extension with Los Angeles in 2022, which included the player option he declined for next season.
During the 2024 All-Star weekend in February, James said he wanted to retire as a Laker.
“I’m a Laker and I’ve been very happy being a Laker for the last six years, and I hope it stays that way,” James said, just before making his record 20th All-Star appearance.
Another factor to consider was James’ son, Bronny, who was selected by the Lakers with the 55th overall pick on Thursday. LeBron James has repeatedly said that he hoped to play his final NBA season with Bronny, and now that Junior has reportedly signed with the Lakers, that dream will become a reality. LeBron and Bronny will officially be the fourth father-son duo to play together in the history of professional sports.
LeBron James helped the Lakers to an NBA bubble title in 2020, earning their fourth championship overall. In the years since, the Lakers have struggled. They were eliminated in the first round of the 2021 and 2024 playoffs and missed the postseason in 2022. James and the Lakers made it to the 2023 Western Conference Finals but were swept by the eventual NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets.
Upon returning to the Lakers, James will strive to achieve another championship victory under the leadership of new head coach JJ Redick, who signed a four-year contract with the Lakers on June 20 and replaces Darvin Ham.
