NBA Insider Issues Massive Lakers, LeBron James Future Prediction
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The Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James are heading into their final season together, at least when it comes to the superstar’s current contract.
Earlier this offseason, James opted in to the final year of his contract that will pay him just over $52.6 million. However, there are real questions about whether or not he will remain with the Lakers following the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Some rumors have come out that Los Angeles is ready to move on from James. It has also been rumored that James is interested in playing for another team.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter of Game Four of the First Round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center on April… LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter of Game Four of the First Round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center on April 27, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images
With that being said, no one truly knows what the future holds between the two sides.
Read more: Where Could LeBron James Go Next? Top Landing Spots If He Leaves Lakers
Marc Stein, a longtime NBA insider, has revealed what he expects will happen between James and the Lakers. He expects the superstar to finish his career with another team.
“I believe that, by saying what I just said in the previous paragraph, it means that I expect him to retire in a uniform that isn’t purple and gold. It’s pretty clear at this juncture that the Lakers have launched the Luka Dončić Era,” Stein wrote. “It certainly appears as though they are approaching the 2025-26 season as LeBron’s last in Tinseltown. If James doesn’t want retirement forced upon him, as one suspects, that almost certainly means he would have to find a new team next summer.”
James is still playing at a superstar level. He’s still capable of being one of the best players in the NBA.
Should he reach free agency next offseason, there would be a long line of teams interested in signing him. He could also target signing with the team that drafts his younger son, Bryce James, if he chooses to come out and enter the 2026 NBA Draft.
Read more: Knicks Speculation Heats Up Around Former No 1 Pick
On the flip side, it’s possible that Los Angeles will win this season and could choose to keep James around.
There is no way to predict the future. Only time will tell, but the 2025-26 season seems likely to see James stay with the Lakers. Very few teams around the NBA would be interested in giving up what it would take to acquire the 40-year-old superstar.
Expect to continue hearing more about James and his future in Los Angeles. For now, Stein expects the two sides to part ways after the upcoming campaign comes to an end.
For more on the Los Angeles Lakers and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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