Reliable NBA Insider Drops Bombshell Update on Whether LeBron James Will Stay with LA Lakers Next Season

As LeBron James has kept the fans guessing about whether he will return to the LA Lakers for next season or not, the speculations on his future have never dyed down ever since the Lakers got knocked out of the playoffs. Subsequently, famed NBA journalist Shams Charania has come up with an update that provides a concrete view of what lies ahead for the NBA legend.

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LeBron James to Stay with LA Lakers

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Shams Charania stated that LeBron James will likely return to L.A. by opting into his player option. James has a player option available for a whopping $52.6 million for the 2025-26 season.

“I’m told he’s likely to opt in,” Charanis said on Tuesday. “He’s got a massive player option. That’s likely. That’s the plan. But, again, his option date is June 29th. So, he still has about a month to figure that out.”

The update is a follow-up of his earlier report where he stated that LeBron was unlikely to take a pay cut but could opt into his deal with the Lakers. Bron getting paid over $50 million next year cannot be termed as a pay cut. Moreover, if he comes back at that amount, it would be the most he has ever made in a single NBA season.

LeBron getting paid over $50 million next year is certainly not a pay cut. If he comes back at that dollar amount, it would be the most he’s ever made in a single NBA season.

While the King has crossed the age of 40, and his powers are certainly declining, but not many would argue over the wages he is set to receive.

“There’s going to be some hard conversations that are going to happen between him, the Lakers, seeing what this team looks like. Because, listen, LeBron James, whether he plays one more season or a few more seasons, he wants to be in a competitive environment.”

He finished last season averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game. LeBron also made the All-NBA Second Team this past season and remains the clear leader for the Lakers.

With LeBron returning, the Lakers would be able to focus on addressing the other gaps in their roster and build out a team around LeBron and Luka Doncic.