LeBron James Reportedly Leaning One Way With Lakers

Here’s A Look Inside LeBron James’ Los Angeles Mansion (1:14)

It’s flown under the radar for a while but LeBron James has a serious decision to make about his NBA future. He can choose to either opt out of his current deal and hit free agency for the first time since 2018, or run it back for another year with the Los Angeles Lakers.

While he hasn’t announced his decision yet, one ESPN insider may have had the scoop on what he’ll do.

Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania announced that LeBron is “likely to opt in.” Charania pointed out that LeBron has a “massive player option” that would be hard to turn down, regardless of how he feels about the team. But Charania also admitted that LeBron still has another month before he has to make a decision.

“I’m told he’s likely to opt in,” Charania said. “He’s got a player option of $54-57 million. He’s got a massive player option. That’s likely, that’s the plan. His option date is June 29, so he still has about a month to figure (it) out.”

“I’m told LeBron James is likely to opt in..

He’s got a massive player option and that’s the plan..

He still has about a month to figure that out”@ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/8mzUsMCU9r

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 27, 2025

NBA fans quickly asserted that LeBron is holding the Lakers back and this move will hurt the Lakers more than it helps them.

“Cuz it’s all about him. That’s why Lakers will continue to lose,” one user remarked.

“This wouldn’t be good for the Lakers. I don’t think he’ll put the team above the first apron…Also, if he does opt in. It’s the farewell tour,” wrote another.

“As great as LeBron still is, if he’s back with the Lakers next season making $54M, I don’t see how Pelinka can put together a championship-caliber roster,” a third asserted.

“LeBron still has plenty of flopping left in him.”

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) warms up before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.

Mandatory Credit&colon; Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

LeBron is 40 now and will be turning 41 midway through the 2025-26 NBA season. But if he is on the decline, that decline has been a lot slower than it has for other athletes. Just this year he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game while playing 70 games and averaging nearly 35 minutes per night.

That’s the kind of production you can contend with – if he can keep it up.