Rob Pelinka hopes to see LeBron James don a Los Angeles Lakers jersey for what would be a record-extending 24th NBA season in 2026-27.
But the Lakers president doesn't intend to rush the 41-year-old on a decision this summer.
"The first order of business there is allowing him to spend the time he needs to decide what his next steps are," Pelinka said Tuesday at the Lakers' exit interviews, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "Does he want to play another year in the NBA?
"And that'll be (decided through) family time, I think time with his inner circle. And we just want to honor that for him."
James will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since signing with the Lakers in 2018 following a second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"Of course, any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster," Pelinka added. "That's a blessing in itself just with what he does."
Despite missing the first month of the regular season recuperating from sciatica, the NBA's all-time scoring and games leader was still critical to Los Angeles' success. James averaged 20.9 points - his lowest mark since his rookie year - but added 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games to help JJ Redick's side finish 53-29 and fourth in the Western Conference.
With the Lakers missing their top two scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for much of the postseason, James led the team in playoff scoring (23.2 points) and assists (7.3).
L.A. was swept in the second round by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday after James helped eliminate Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets in six games in Round 1.
Following Monday's loss, James stated that he doesn't "know what the future holds" for him.
