TITLE: LeBron James Still Weighing Whether to Continue Playing After Current Season
SLUG: lebron-james-undecided-on-playing-beyond-this-season
CONTENT:
LeBron James has not decided if the 2025-26 campaign will be part of his career, according to people close to the Los Angeles Lakers star who spoke with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The 39-year-old forward owns a record streak of 21 consecutive All-NBA selections. Extending that run to 22 would require appearing in 63 of the Lakers’ final 66 regular-season games. James, who turns 41 in December, has already missed time this fall because of sciatica.
Those familiar with James’ thinking told ESPN that if he knew this season were his last, he would likely push to play every game for which he is healthy. Without that certainty, the four-time MVP feels no obligation to stage a farewell tour.
Los Angeles faces 11 sets of back-to-back games the rest of the year. Head coach JJ Redick said he has not discussed the All-NBA streak with James and is focused on preserving the veteran’s health for a potential playoff run. “An All-NBA spot isn’t going to define his résumé,” Redick told ESPN.
Agent Rich Paul echoed that stance, saying he prefers James to skip back-to-back situations rather than risk additional wear and tear.
Championship aspirations remain the overriding priority. Team officials believe conserving minutes now improves the odds of having an elite version of James in April and May, a scenario they view as more valuable than meeting the new 65-game threshold for awards consideration.
James is earning approximately $52.6 million in the final year of his current contract. League rules prevent an extension before July, so if he opts to continue playing in 2025-26, he would enter free agency first—either re-signing with the Lakers or joining another franchise.
For now, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer is keeping his options open and the basketball world guessing.
Source: Hoops Wire
