LeBron James is reportedly planing to opt out of his player option next season, but isn’t quite a free agent yet.
In advance of the Saturday deadline on his decision, the 39-year-old superstar declined his $51.4 million option to play for the Los Angeles Lakers next season, but is expected to return to the Lakers with a new deal in free agency, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Just In: Los Angeles Lakers four-time champion LeBron James intends to opt out of his $51.4 million player option for next season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The expectation is James will return to the Lakers on a new deal. pic.twitter.com/wQAbSAwCQD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2024
The last time he was a free agent, James joined the Lakers in 2018, signing a four-year, $154 million deal to go west. He signed a two-year, $97.1 million extension with Los Angeles in 2022, which included a player option for this upcoming season.
James is eligible to sign a three-year, $162 million maximum contract to return to the Lakers in free agency. He is also eligible to sign with any other team in the NBA for a maximum of $157.5 million over the next three seasons. (The NBA limits contracts for players over 38 years old to three-year maximums.)
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 2023-2024 season.
Although his free agency decisions are unclear, James said that he wanted to retire as a Laker during the 2024 All-Star Weekend in February.
“I am a Laker, and I’ve been very happy being a Laker the last six years, and hopefully it stays that way,” James said, just before making a record-breaking 20th All-Star appearance.
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