LeBron James: Last NBA season? 4 scenarios for the King.

The King Remains: LeBron James and the Uncertain Future in the NBA

The signs of LeBron James‘s presence in the locker room before the Los Angeles Lakers’ first preseason game in Palm Desert, California, were minimal: his gold number 23 uniform and a triangular cushion on his seat. That night, the t-shirt wasn’t necessary, but the pillow was. Of the 42 players on the training rosters of the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns, 22 were born in the 2000s and 19 in the 1990s. James, for his part, was born in 1984, five months before Suns coach Jordan Ott. The 40-year-old player did not participate in the exhibition game due to a glute irritation, according to Lakers coach JJ Redick. However, the cushion fulfilled its function, both in the locker room and during the match.

When James finally appeared in the locker room with a shirt that said “Forever King”, he was questioned about his twenty-third season. Before he could answer, Lakers guard Austin Reaves, intervened.

“You have five more seasons left,” Reaves said.

Austin Reaves

James smiled and the reporter continued: “Why not six or seven, reach 30?”. Reaves added: “Yes, set a record!”. James, looking at Reaves, responded with a smile: “I already set a record”. Of the approximately 5,000 players who have played in the NBA, James is the only one who has remained for 23 seasons. In addition, he has scored more regular season points (42,184), more postseason points (8,289) and has participated in more All-Star Games (21) than anyone. His achievements, including four MVP awards, four championships, and four Finals MVPs, are widely known. The question now is whether time is running out for James or if he will seek to extend his legacy. In his eighth season with the Lakers, the longest consecutive with any team, he plays with a contract about to expire, after exercising his $52.6 million option for the 2025-26 season without negotiating an extension. During the Lakers’ annual media day, the first question for James was about his retirement.

“I don’t know,” said James, who earned second-team All-NBA honors in his 22nd season. “I’m excited about the opportunity to play the game I love for another season. And however the journey goes this year, I’m all in. Because, as you said, I don’t know when the end is, but I know it’s a lot sooner than later.”

LeBron James

The Lakers, who will be without James for several weeks due to sciatica issues, are coming off a season in which they signed Luka Doncic and secured third place in the competitive Western Conference, but fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. After James chose to stay in L.A., his agent, Rich Paul, issued a statement that many interpreted as a sign that James could end his career elsewhere.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul said. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic opportunity to win it all. … We understand the difficulty of winning now while preparing for the future. We want to assess what’s best for LeBron at this stage of his life and career.”

Rich Paul

Given this scenario, there are four possible outcomes for James and the Lakers.

Possible Scenarios

Retire as a Laker after the 2025-26 season: James’s tenure with the Lakers has been marked by injuries, missing 124 games in seven seasons. Despite coaching changes and management turnover, there have been successes, including the 2020 championship. The franchise celebrated James when he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in 2023. In 2024, the Lakers drafted Bronny, allowing James to fulfill his wish of playing with his son. Months before the 2024 draft, the Golden State Warriors inquired about a possible trade for James, to which the Lakers responded that they were not interested. After the conversations, James expressed his commitment to the franchise. Lakers’ president of basketball operations and general manager, Rob Pelinka, made it clear that the franchise wants James to retire as a Laker.Re-signing with the Lakers after the 2025-26 season: The Lakers could have around $50 million in cap space, which James could occupy with a new contract. He could sign a contract for up to three years for $188 million. However, the timing with Doncic and Reaves, both in their twenties, is a factor to consider. Doncic, who admires James, enjoys their partnership and believes it is vital for the Lakers to win. If the Lakers were to win the championship this season, would that be a perfect ending for James, or would he want to defend the title again?Request a transfer or terminate the contract in January or February 2026: James’ priority is to win, so he could choose to leave if the Lakers are not successful. However, there are few viable options for him due to transfer restrictions and salary limitations of other teams.Signing with another team as a free agent in 2026: There are 10 teams with available cap space, but moving from California would be a big change for James, considering his family lives there. In addition, he would face significant competition in the free agent market. In short, LeBron James’ future is uncertain. His twenty-third season could be the beginning of the end of his career or a transition to a twenty-fourth season. Or perhaps, his body will be the one to make the decision. A source close to James stated: “Everyone is trying to dictate when it ends and the reality is that no one knows.” For his part, James remains focused on the present.