Lakers Reflect on LeBron James' Offseason Decision

The Los Angeles Lakers have centered their 2025 offseason around Luka Doncic rather than LeBron James. The team signed Doncic to a three-year, $165 million extension after he became available at the February deadline.

However, the Lakers did not approach LeBron about an extension, leading him to exercise his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, marking the first time in his career he is on an expiring contract.

Despite initial concerns over the decision not to extend him, LeBron has struggled this season, missing nearly the first month due to an irritated sciatic nerve and looking every bit of his age in the six games played, showing decreased mobility and defensive impact.

LeBron, at nearly 41 years old, signed a two-year, $104 million extension in 2024, and while his current salary is the 12th highest in the league, the next contract he signs is unlikely to be as lucrative if his performance does not improve.

Lakers' general manager Rob Pelinka has indicated the organization wants LeBron to retire with the team. LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, stated that LeBron understood the Lakers were planning for the future but valued a real chance to win it all.

The Lakers are currently second in the Western Conference with a 16-5 record, suggesting that their offseason strategy may be paying off despite the initial scrutiny of their decision regarding LeBron.