LeBron James and the Lakers may be headed for a standoff. According to league insiders, James pushed for a short “one-plus-one” extension this summer, but the Lakers refused to offer it, leaving the 40-year-old superstar frustrated as he enters his 23rd season.
“He obviously wanted an extension, and it’s also clear that the Lakers wouldn’t give it to him,” one NBA source told Bleacher Report. “That’s what he was reacting to.”
LeBron has one year left on his deal, which means he’ll become an unrestricted free agent next summer. For now, the consensus is that James wants to stay in Los Angeles, but the Lakers are ready for a potential split, and they’ll have a big decision to make in July 2026.
“It didn’t even seem like there were negotiations,” said one NBA executive. “By not offering him an extension, the Lakers put LeBron in a bind.”
For most of his career, LeBron has never had trouble getting contract offers, but things have changed in this stint with the Lakers. Going into his eighth season with the franchise, his role is vastly different than what it once was, and so is his value.
With averages of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game last season, LeBron’s stats are elite but not quite enough to give him priority over Luka Doncic. That trade in February reshifted the Lakers’ focus, making James more of a sidekick for the first time in his career.
Of course, it has also obscured his basketball future. At 40 years old, LeBron’s NBA lifespan was already on the fringe, but the uncertainty of what lies ahead only gives him another reason to call it quits next summer.
For the Lakers, this upcoming season will determine what comes next with LeBron. If he plays up to his standards and makes notable contributions on the court, it may be enough for Rob Pelinka to re-sign him to another short-term deal.
If not, the Lakers will move on and use James’ salary to pursue other stars. With plenty of tradeable assets and a new star to build around, L.A. is in the win-now business, and they won’t let anyone get in the way of that, not even LeBron.
From James’ perspective, this treatment has left him feeling frustrated with the Lakers, creating a real and noticeable divide within the franchise. Now, after 22 years in the NBA, LeBron faces the prospect of leaving the Lakers and joining a new team for the first time in seven years.
Regardless of how it plays out, LeBron is going to give it his all in 2025-26, with hopes of returning to contention and buying himself more time to play in Los Angeles. As it stands, he’d prefer to stay than to leave the Lakers, but he may not have full control over what happens next.
LeBron James has built his career on controlling his own destiny, but for the first time in decades, that control is slipping. The Lakers are preparing for life beyond him, and James is fighting to prove he still belongs at the center of it all. Whether he stays in Los Angeles or ends up writing one final chapter elsewhere, this season could be the one that defines how his legendary career ends.
