The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a shocking elimination after losing 4-1 in the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs. This unexpected fall of the Los Angeles franchise could lead to multiple consequences heading into next season.

Following the elimination, LeBron James sent shockwaves through the NBA by opening the door to a possible retirement after more than 20 seasons in the league. “I’m going to sit down and talk with my family, my wife, and my inner circle to discuss it and see what happens. Then I’ll also have a conversation with myself about how much longer I want to keep playing,” the forward said in a press conference.

However, despite the comments from the Lakers star that stirred uncertainty about his future, Shams Charania, the well-known NBA insider, revealed that LeBron James has no intention of retiring and is expected to play at least one more season.

LeBron James’ Contract with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025–2026 Season

The decision to continue with the Los Angeles Lakers lies solely with LeBron James, as his contract with the franchise includes a player option for one more year—meaning only the NBA star can trigger that option to extend the deal.

LeBron James has yet to decide his NBA future (Getty Images)

If LeBron James chooses to play out the remaining year on his contract, the forward would earn $52,627,153 during the 2025–2026 NBA season. While that figure is undeniably massive, the 40-year-old would still not rank among the top 10 highest-paid players in the NBA.

For example, Stephen Curry is set to make $59,606,817 next season, while Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are expected to earn $55,224,526, rounding out the podium of the league’s top earners for the 2025–2026 campaign.

Lastly, if he does opt into his contract, LeBron James is not expected to take a pay cut—unlike this current season, when he agreed to reduce his salary by $2.7 million to help the Los Angeles Lakers stay below the league’s second apron threshold.