LeBron James is putting pen to paper.
The free-agent forward is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year, $104-million max contract, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
His new deal contains a no-trade clause, Wojnarowski adds. It also reportedly includes a player option for 2025-26, potentially setting up James to enter free agency again next summer.
Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, James’ agent, is reportedly still discussing the possibility of the 39-year-old taking approximately $1 million less than his max salary. That would keep the Lakers below the new second apron in the CBA, allowing them to avoid strict roster-building restrictions for tax-paying teams, such as prohibiting combining multiple outgoing salaries in trades.
James was expected to recommit to L.A. after turning down a $51.4-million player option for this coming season. The four-time MVP is entering his 22nd NBA campaign but will have the unique opportunity to become the first player in history to play with his son, Bronny James, whom the Lakers selected 55th overall in this year’s draft. He’ll also play under longtime friend JJ Redick, who was hired to replace Darvin Ham as head coach in June.
James, who’ll turn 40 this year, continues to be one of the most productive players on the Lakers. The 20-time All-Star led the franchise in scoring (25.7 points per game) and assists (8.3) last season while adding 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He helped L.A. advance past the play-in tournament to the first round, though the team fell in five games to the Denver Nuggets.
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