NBA superstar LeBron James is set to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers, opting in to his $52.6 million contract for the 2025-26 NBA season.
With this, the 40-year-old will become the first player in NBA history to enter his 23rd season in the league.
Having averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists last season, James has appeared in 1,562 regular-season games during his storied career.
Meanwhile, James Harden has opted to remain in Los Angeles, signing a two-year, $81.5 million extension with the Clippers.
In other news, Jabari Smith Jr. will remain with the Houston Rockets on a five-year, $122 million extension. His teammates, Jeff Green, Jae’Sean Tate, and Aaron Holiday, are also expected to sign deals with the Rockets.
Former No. 2 overall pick Julius Randle has committed to a three-year, $100 million deal to stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder locked in Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell on separate three-year extensions valued at $24 million and $9 million, respectively.
In Philadelphia, Kelly Oubre Jr. will return to the 76ers after accepting his $8.4 million player option, while Bobby Portis Jr. signed a three-year, $44 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
On another note, the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets concluded a trade sending Collin Sexton and a 2031 second-round pick to the Hornets in return for veteran center Jusuf Nurkic.
And lastly, with his buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers now complete, former No. 1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton has become a free agent, becoming another big name on the offseason’s list of available centers.
