Rich Paul ended speculation about LeBron James’ future, stating that the veteran forward will remain with the Los Angeles Lakers through the end of the 2025-26 season.
Paul made the comments during an appearance on Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul, where he addressed the idea of Los Angeles moving its soon-to-be-41-year-old star before his contract expires.
When Kellerman asked if James could realistically be on another roster by season’s end, Paul responded, “No,” and added, “Where’s he going to go?”
Kellerman mentioned New York as a hypothetical destination, but Paul dismissed the idea as “wishful thinking,” noting that teams across the league would welcome James because of his impact on winning.
James is in the final year of a two-year, $101 million deal after opting into his player option last summer, placing him in a flexible contract position that routinely fuels trade chatter.
The Lakers enter the week at 17–6, holding one of the best records in the Western Conference with a roster built around Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and James.
Doncic leads the team with 35.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.1 assists in 37.1 minutes, functioning as the centerpiece of the league’s most productive offensive trio.
Reaves contributes 28.4 points and 6.7 assists while maintaining a 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio, giving the backcourt consistent creation alongside Doncic.
James has appeared in seven games due to a sciatica issue and is averaging 16.1 points, 7.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 33.1 minutes.
Los Angeles has also received steady production from Deandre Ayton, who posts 15.3 points and 8.8 rebounds, and Rui Hachimura, who adds 14.0 points while spacing the floor in hybrid forward lineups.
Marcus Smart brings 9.3 points and 2.9 assists, and Jake LaRavia contributes 8.9 points with strong defensive activity on the wing.
The rotation’s versatility has helped the Lakers maintain pace in a competitive conference, even as James plays a reduced workload compared to his early-career volume.
James’ long résumé — including 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists across 1,569 regular-season games — continues to factor into the team’s approach, as Los Angeles manages his minutes while maximizing his playmaking.
Paul emphasized that James still improves any roster he joins but reiterated that the forward is not seeking a move and the Lakers have no reason to entertain offers.
New York has been linked to several high-profile names as part of its long-term search for an MVP-caliber addition, but Paul’s comments reinforce that James is not part of that market.
