LeBron James may not retire as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, according to veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein.
In his latest column on The Stein Line, Stein wrote that the 2025–26 season appears to be James’ last in Los Angeles, noting, “It certainly appears as though they are approaching the 2025-26 season as LeBron’s last in Tinseltown.”
The 20-time All-Star opted into his $52.6 million player option earlier this offseason, effectively committing to another year with the Lakers. However, Stein believes James is already eyeing a potential move elsewhere in what could be the final year of his career.
Stein reported that Golden State has had interest in acquiring James since the 2024 trade deadline and will “remain in the mix” if the four-time NBA champion chooses to finish his career with a new franchise.
James’ decision to opt in came with a no-trade clause, which means the Lakers would need his full approval to send him elsewhere. Still, Stein emphasized that internal expectations suggest a transition toward the Luka Doncic era is already underway in Los Angeles.
Agent Rich Paul previously told ESPN that James’ opt-in was based on a desire to contend while supporting the organization’s long-term outlook. “LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul said. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future.”
James turns 41 during the 2025–26 season. Despite his age, he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists last year while shooting 51.3% from the field.
With over 1,500 career games played, the league’s all-time leading scorer remains one of the most productive players in the NBA.
Lakers executives, meanwhile, have expressed satisfaction with his decision to stay through next season, telling Keith Smith of Spotrac that they “respect the process” and are “just happy that he’s still a Laker.”
Stein acknowledged that relocating again could prove challenging for James, who is settled in Southern California with his family. Still, a source cautioned that everything could depend on how the 2025–26 campaign unfolds.
“If James doesn’t want retirement forced upon him,” Stein wrote, “that almost certainly means he would have to find a new team next summer.”
