Report: LeBron James ‘Would Like To Finish’ Career With Lakers

According to NBA insider Zach Lowe of ESPN, LeBron James “would like to finish” his career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2024-25 player option 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. I think he probably will opt-in. Is he really opting out of $51 million?”

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

LBJ 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 Sam Amick of The Athletic. 

“Team sources say the Lakers would strongly prefer that James retire in their jersey someday, meaning he holds all the cards until his contract situation gets figured out,” Amick wrote. “The Lakers’ top decision-makers have no illusions about that much.”

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron is averaging 24.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists this season while shooting 51.9% from the field, 39.3% from beyond the arc and 73.7% from the free-throw line. The Lakers (28-26) are in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. 

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

When reporters asked him in New York if he knows what he’s going to do with his player option for next season, LeBron, 39, said, “No.”