By: Russ Spencer

In a decision that further cements his legacy as the most enduring force in modern basketball, LeBron James has officially exercised his $52.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season, a person familiar with the move confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday. This strategic choice not only prolongs James’ storied career into a 23rd NBA season — a feat no player has ever achieved — but also serves as a definitive statement about his ongoing dominance, resilience, and strategic value within the league.

The individual confirming the move spoke on condition of anonymity, as neither James nor the Lakers have publicly announced the decision. However, reports from ESPN and The Athletic corroborated the move earlier in the day, adding momentum to what many close observers of the league saw as inevitable.

James, who turns 41 in December, is the NBA’s oldest active player. His return signals more than just longevity — it underscores a commitment to maintaining elite performance in a league whose average player retires after less than five seasons. The Associated Press noted that James resumed on-court workouts recently after taking several weeks to rehabilitate a sprained knee ligament, an injury he sustained in the Lakers’ final playoff appearance this past season.

In an earlier interview with The Associated Press, James emphasized his readiness to ramp up for the upcoming season: “I have a lot of time to take care of my injury, my knee, the rest of my body and make sure I’m as close to 100% as possible when training camp begins in late September,” he said. His remarks, while cautiously optimistic, were read by many as a signal that he had no plans to walk away just yet.

And now, with the Sunday deadline for his player option decision passed, those intentions have been decisively confirmed. The extension brings his career on-court earnings to an estimated $580 million, an astronomical figure reflective of his dual status as a global icon and the NBA’s most prolific scorer.

LeBron James will surpass Vince Carter’s previous record of 22 seasons played, a landmark that will add another layer to a resume already saturated with firsts and bests. According to The Associated Press, James has been selected to the All-NBA Team in 21 of his 22 seasons — a statistic that puts him in a stratosphere of his own. No other player has received more than 15 such honors.

This past season, despite battling physical setbacks, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game — figures that would mark career peaks for most NBA players, but in his case, simply maintain the high bar he has normalized. He also finished as a second-team All-NBA pick, reaffirming his status as an elite competitor even in the fifth decade of his life.

Beyond personal accolades, James is now poised to break Robert Parish’s all-time record for most regular-season games played. James stands at 1,562 games — just 49 shy of Parish’s 1,611. Barring significant injury, the mark should fall sometime in the upcoming season.

The coming season will also be James’ first full campaign alongside Luka Doncic, the Slovenian phenom acquired by the Lakers in a blockbuster February trade with Dallas. Though the duo’s initial run ended abruptly with a first-round exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, league analysts and fans alike are eager to see what a full season of synergy between the generational talents might yield.