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LeBron James is in the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, with rumors on his uncertain future and potential retirement.
LeBron James’ future with the Los Angeles Lakers has been a recurring topic for years, with his current contract running through the summer of 2026.
As the 2025-26 season unfolds, speculation has intensified around whether this season represents the final chapter of James’ time in Los Angeles, the start of a farewell tour, or the possibility that he finishes his career elsewhere.
That conversation escalated further following a recent report from ESPN reporter Baxter Holmes, which detailed alleged tension between James and Lakers governor and minority owner Jeanie Buss.
The report claimed Buss had grown frustrated, citing a perceived lack of appreciation and accountability from the Lakers superstar, as well as what was described as an outsized ego.
Lakers, LeBron James and an Uncertain Timeline
James is in the second year of a two-year, $101 million contract, a short-term structure he has frequently favored for much of his career.
After exercising his player option, he is now positioned to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026, a timeline that continues to fuel questions about how and where his career will conclude.
In the wake of ESPN’s report, speculation has even extended to the possibility of an earlier separation, with some suggesting James and the Lakers could part ways as soon as the February 5 trade deadline.
Any such move, however, would require James’ approval, as his contract includes a no-trade clause.
Following Thursday night’s 112-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, James was asked about the trade deadline from his teammates’ perspective and initially brushed it off with humor.
“What are you saying? Oh sh-t, don’t do that. I’m just playing,” he said in a joking manner.
When pressed further on whether Los Angeles remains where he wants to be and where he intends to finish the season, James offered a brief and non-committal response.
“I’m good, I’m good… I’m good,” he told reporters.
Speculation Extends Beyond Los Angeles
ESPN’s report also alleged that Buss once considered not re-signing James and explored the idea of trading him to the Clippers in 2022.
Four years later, an eventual exit no longer feels far-fetched. At 41, James has been linked to several potential landing spots should he leave Los Angeles, with the Golden State Warriors emerging as a frequently mentioned possibility.
Such a move would reunite James with long-time friend Stephen Curry in what would be one of the most headline-grabbing pairings in league history.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, however, any Warriors pursuit would be expected to come in the offseason rather than before the trade deadline.
“Sources say that the Warriors naturally do plan to feature prominently in the offseason market for LeBron James once he becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30,” Fischer reported.
After the loss to the Clippers, James was again asked directly about the ESPN report and the broader implications surrounding it.
“Quite frankly, I don’t really get involved in that, or the reports, or whatever the case may be, I’ve seen a lot of it, obviously,” he said. “You guys know me, you guys know since I’ve been here, it’s my eighth year here, I’ve been in this league 23 years, there’s going to be another article tomorrow, especially involving me.”
“I don’t care about articles. I really don’t. I don’t care about stories, I don’t care about podcasts and all that type of sh-t. It don’t bother me. I don’t care how somebody feel about me.”
As the media availability wrapped up, James offered one final remark that encapsulated his mindset amid the noise surrounding his future.
“Everybody’s crazy,” he said, gesturing toward the phrase stitched across his hoodie.
Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans
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