Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will open his 23rd NBA season this fall, the first player in league history to reach that milestone and the last under his current contract. While speculation swirls about where the 40-year-old might play in 2025-26, agent Rich Paul says the conversation is misplaced.
During Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “NBA Today,” insider Shams Charania said he spoke with Paul, who emphasized that fans and observers should “appreciate the present” rather than worry about James’ future. Paul added that maximizing the star’s final contracted year “potentially falls on the Lakers and the roster they build around him.”
James, an unrestricted free agent next summer, enters a season filled with variables. Los Angeles must try to contend now while protecting long-term flexibility, a balancing act the four-time MVP is expected to monitor closely. Another factor is the development of James’ younger son, Bryce, who begins his freshman year of college later this year and could reach the 2026 NBA Draft.
Charania noted that James has not ruled out playing beyond 2024-25, but whether that would be in Los Angeles or elsewhere remains uncertain. For now, Paul’s message is clear: enjoy a historically durable superstar who continues to perform at an elite level.
James himself showed an appreciation for the moment this week, congratulating A’ja Wilson on social media after the Las Vegas Aces forward became the first player to claim four WNBA MVP awards.
Source: Lakers Nation
