LeBron James Agent Sends Clear Message to Los Angeles Lakers originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

LeBron James is back for another season with the Los Angeles Lakers, but make no mistake: the clock is ticking.

The 40-year-old NBA legend is opting into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, ensuring that he intends to play a record-setting 23rd year in the league. And while a lot of the national headlines will focus on James suiting up alongside his son Bronny, the bigger story is the challenge ahead for the Lakers front office. 

Because if you’re listening closely, Rich Paul, James’ longtime agent, made something crystal clear.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul said. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.

“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”

Translation? Legacy matters, but time matters more.

James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds last season, becoming the first 40-year-old ever named to an All-NBA team. He’s still producing. But the Western Conference isn’t getting easier, and the Lakers’ window to win won’t last forever. They need to get younger, more athletic, and build a roster that can win now without completely punting on their post-LeBron future. That’s a difficult balance to strike.

That means looking ahead and starting to build around Luka Dončić as the next face of the franchise while still trying to squeeze what’s left out of one of the greatest careers in basketball history.

The King is still in the building. But the future’s at the door. And make no mistake, James and his camp will be watching the Lakers moves closely. If the vision for his final chapter and the franchise’s long-term direction aren’t fully aligned, all options remain on the table.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.