NBA Insider Thinks LeBron James Wants To Sign New 9-Figure Deal With Lakers This Summer

NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN thinks LeBron James wants to sign a new nine-figure deal with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. 

LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he declines his 2024-25 player option with the Lakers worth $51.4 million. 

“I don’t think this is LeBron’s last stand,” Windhorst said on First Take. “I don’t think this is the Lakers’ last stand. First off, I think LeBron is angling to sign a multi-year deal in the offseason with the Lakers that will be nine figures, that will be even bigger than the deal he is on now. Now, whether or not he’s able to finish that deal, whether or not the Lakers want to give him a three-year contract and pay him $60 million when he’s 42 years old, that’s a different discussion.”

LeBron joined the Lakers in the summer of 2018. The four-time MVP signed a four-year, $153 million contract.

LeBron then signed a two-year, $85 million extension in December 2020 after leading the Lakers to the 2020 championship at the Walt Disney World bubble. 

In August 2022, LeBron signed a two-year, $99 million extension with the Lakers, who “strongly prefer” The King retire with them, according to NBA reporter Sam Amick of The Athletic. 

A four-time Finals MVP, LeBron is averaging 27.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.9 assists in a Lakers uniform.

According to NBA reporter Zach Lowe of ESPN, LeBron would like to finish his career with the Lakers. 

“On LeBron James, look I can’t sit here and really tell you I know what LeBron wants out of life,” Lowe said on his podcast. “Everything I’ve heard for years, including today, is if he has his druthers, he would like to finish his career with the Lakers. There are pipe dream scenarios out there where like well Philly has all this cap space. Could he opt in and ask for a trade to Philly? I haven’t heard that those things are real. I think he wants to finish his career a Laker.”