LeBron James is reportedly staying with the Los Angeles Lakers for the time being.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, James is set to sign a two-year deal worth up to $104 million with the Lakers, less than a day after they offered his son, rookie Bronny James, a guaranteed two-year contract.
On Saturday, James opted out of his previous contract. His agent Rich Paul told ESPN that James was willing to discuss a deal lower than the maximum he was entitled to so that general manager Rob Pelinka could sign an “impact player.”
The 39-year-old is the oldest active player in the NBA, but shows no signs of slowing down: James averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 35 minutes per game in the 2023-24 season.
James joined the Lakers in 2018, signing a four-year, $154 million contract. He signed a two-year, $97.1 million extension with Los Angeles in 2022, including a player option that he declined for the upcoming season.
During the 2024 All-Star weekend in February, James said he wanted to retire as a Laker.
“I’m a Laker and I’ve been very happy being a Laker for the last six years and hopefully that continues,” James said, moments before being named to his record 20th All-Star team.
Another consideration was James’ son, Bronny, who was drafted by the Lakers on Thursday with the 55th overall pick. James has repeatedly said that he hopes to play his final NBA season with Bronny, and now that Junior has reportedly signed with the Lakers, that dream is becoming a reality. LeBron and Bronny officially become the fourth father-son duo to play together in professional sports history.
James helped lead the Lakers to a championship in the NBA bubble in 2020, earning his fourth overall championship. In the years since, the Lakers have struggled, being eliminated in the first round of the 2021 and 2024 playoffs and missing the postseason altogether in 2022. James and the Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals in 2023, but were swept by the eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
By returning to the Lakers, James will attempt to regain the championship under new head coach JJ Redick, who signed a four-year contract with the Lakers on June 20, replacing Darvin Ham.
