Four Possible Outcomes Loom as LeBron James Begins His 23rd NBA Season
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LOS ANGELES — LeBron James, the only player in NBA history to reach a 23rd season, opens 2025-26 under circumstances no other star has faced: an expiring contract, lingering injuries and four distinct paths that could determine how his career ends.
The context
The 40-year-old forward, born in December 1984, reported to training camp nursing nerve irritation in his glute and, according to head coach JJ Redick, is expected to miss three to four weeks with right-side sciatica. He sat out the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason opener in Palm Desert, California, where his No. 23 jersey hung unworn while a foam seat cushion saw full duty.
James enters his eighth season in purple and gold — his longest stretch with one franchise — after exercising a $52.6 million player option in June without negotiating an extension. It is the first time he has played on an expiring deal.
On media day, James said he remains “excited” but admitted the finish line is “a lot sooner than later.” Roughly 5,000 athletes have appeared in an NBA game; none has lasted this long. His résumé already includes four MVP awards, four championships, four Finals MVP trophies, 42,184 regular-season points, a record 8,289 postseason points and 21 All-Star selections.
Why this season is different
Agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports told ESPN in June that James still “wants to compete for a championship” and will evaluate “what’s best” at this stage. The Lakers, meanwhile, are balancing immediate contention with long-term roster building around 26-year-olds Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Los Angeles finished third in the Western Conference last season after acquiring Doncic but lost to sixth-seeded Minnesota in five games. The front office can include its 2031 or 2032 first-round pick, plus multiple swap rights, in trades this year yet may hesitate if James’ future appears uncertain.
The four scenarios
1. Play the season, then retire as a Laker. Team president Rob Pelinka publicly endorsed the idea, saying, “We would love if LeBron’s story would be, he retired a Laker.” James has missed 124 games in seven Laker seasons after missing just 71 over his first 15 years, but the stint also produced the 2020 title, his league-leading scoring record in 2023 and the historic father-son pairing with Bronny James in 2024.
2. Finish the year and sign a new deal with L.A. The Lakers could have about $50 million in cap space next summer, enough for James’ projected three-year, $188 million maximum. Doncic and Reaves enjoy playing alongside him and hope he remains, sources told ESPN. If Los Angeles captures a championship this season, James could decide whether to pursue a sixth ring to tie Michael Jordan.
3. Seek a trade or buyout near the February deadline. James holds a no-trade clause, so any move would require his approval. Cap restrictions limit potential destinations. A second Cleveland stint would demand approximately $90 million in outgoing salary and likely a multi-team framework. Golden State and New York would be barred from claiming him on waivers because of second-apron rules, while Dallas would need significant salary sheds to accommodate him, even with James’ ties to Kyrie Irving, head coach Jason Kidd and others on the Mavericks’ staff.
4. Play out the contract, then leave in free agency. Ten teams project significant cap room in July 2026, including the Brooklyn Nets, LA Clippers and Chicago Bulls. Relocation would mean uprooting his family from Southern California, where wife Savannah and daughter Zhuri reside and Bronny is under Lakers control, while son Bryce attends the University of Arizona. The 2026 free-agent class could also feature Kevin Durant, Trae Young and others, limiting suitors.
What’s next
James will open the season on the sideline until his sciatica subsides. The NBA schedule has the Lakers hosting Golden State in their first home game and visiting the Warriors in their final road contest, framing a potential farewell with longtime rival Stephen Curry.
For now, James insists he is focused only on the present. “Not worried about yesterday and not trying to focus on what the future holds,” he told ESPN. Whether 2025-26 becomes a victory lap, a launchpad to a 24th season or a bridge to another uniform remains, for the moment, undecided.
Source: ESPN
