Report: LeBron to reject $51.4M option, expected to re-up with Lakers
LeBron James intends to reject his $51.4-million player option for the 2024-25 season to enter free agency, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
James is expected to return to the Los Angeles Lakers on a new deal, Charania adds.
The 21-year veteran is eligible to sign a three-year, $162 million contract, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
The next campaign will be James' 22nd NBA season, tying the 39-year-old with Vince Carter for the most played in league history.
James wants to work with the Lakers on a new deal that will create space to add an impact player to the roster, his agent Rich Paul told ESPN's Dave McMenamin. However, the NBA's all-time leading scorer will request a max deal if the franchise cannot find such an addition, according to McMenamin, who adds that James must have a new deal in place before Team USA opens its Olympic camp on July 6 in Las Vegas.
James averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 71 contests last season. The league's all-time leading scorer posted a career-best from deep, making 2.1 shots on 41% shooting. James also played his most games in one season since suiting up for every contest in 2017-18.
The Lakers finished 47-35 in the Western Conference and were eliminated by the rival Denver Nuggets in the first round. James and co-star Anthony Davis both averaged 27.8 points over the five-game series.
The franchise parted ways with Darvin Ham in May after the season, replacing him with JJ Redick after attempting to hire Connecticut bench boss Dan Hurley.
L.A. drafted LeBron's son, Bronny James, out of USC with the 55th pick in the draft.
The Lakers selected scorer Dalton Knecht from Tennessee with the No. 17 pick in the NBA draft.
James holds career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.5 steals.