LeBron James' NBA career began with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 LeBron James is set to play in a record 23rd NBA season after his agent said the 40-year-old has exercised an option to extend his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Rich Paul said James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, was targeting a fifth Championship after activating a $53m (£41m) player option for the 2025-26 season. "He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all," he told ESPN. "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." James currently shares the NBA season record with eight-time All-Star Vince Carter. His tally of 1,562 regular-season appearances is just 50 short of breaking former Boston Celtics star Robert Parish's NBA record. In 2023 he broke Lakers icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's long-standing points record of 38,387 to become theNBA's all-time leading scorer. His current tally stands at 42,184. James' NBA career began in 2003 when he was drafted first overall by hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The forward joined the Miami Heat in 2010, winning two titles, before returning to lead Cleveland to their only NBA title with a 2016 success. He has been with the Lakers since 2018 and helped them win the 2020 title, which was also the fourth time James was named NBA finals MVP. His 20-year-old son Bronny was drafted by the Lakers in the summer of 2024 and they becamethe first father-son duoto share the court in an NBA game in October.
LeBron James extends Lakers stay for record 23rd NBA season
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"LeBron James to Play 23rd NBA Season After Contract Extension with Lakers"
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TruthLens AI Summary
LeBron James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, is poised to embark on a historic 23rd season after exercising a player option that extends his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season. At 40 years old, James is focused on pursuing a fifth NBA Championship, as confirmed by his agent Rich Paul. Paul highlighted James's awareness of the Lakers' future-building efforts while underscoring his desire for a realistic opportunity to compete for another title. The decision to extend his contract reflects James's commitment to making the most out of the remaining seasons in his illustrious career, and the Lakers organization has expressed full support for his aspirations. This move also comes as James approaches significant milestones, such as breaking the all-time record for regular-season appearances, currently held by the legendary Robert Parish.
Since being drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, LeBron's career has been marked by numerous accolades and achievements. After winning two championships with the Miami Heat and leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to their only title in 2016, he joined the Lakers in 2018 and contributed to their 2020 championship victory. Notably, James recently surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's long-standing scoring record, adding to his legacy as he now holds 42,184 career points. Furthermore, this season marks a unique personal milestone as well, with his 20-year-old son Bronny being drafted by the Lakers in 2024, allowing them to become the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game. With these developments, LeBron James continues to shape both his legacy and the future of the Lakers franchise as he prepares for yet another season in the league.
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