As the Los Angeles Lakers enter the offseason, all eyes are on LeBron James and whether the 40-year-old superstar will return for a 22nd NBA season. With a $52.6 million player option for 2025-26 still on the table, LeBron is taking his time making a decision that may either extend or end his extraordinary career.
Despite the Lakers’ early playoff loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves, LeBron James’ performance was far from disappointing. He had an amazing average of 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 51.3%. Throughout the season, his basketball IQ and athletic prowess presented defenders with new challenges. The Lakers are definitely in a win-now mindset after adding Luka Doncic in the middle of the season, and if they strengthen their roster, particularly at center, they will be able to contend.
However, not everyone believes LeBron should continue after another championship. Former NBA center Olden Polynice stated his thoughts on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast, implying that it may be time for LeBron to hang up his sneakers. “He’s not getting a fifth ring unless he buys one,” Polynice said flatly, putting James behind superstars Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in terms of the deadly instinct required to win numerous championships.
Other voices, notably LeBron’s former coach Michael Malone, have expressed similar concerns about the star’s ongoing search for greatness.
However, rejecting LeBron’s drive ignores the exceptional nature of his career. While the explosive finishes of his prime years are less often, he is still one of the league’s most prominent players. Beyond his on-court accomplishments, LeBron just achieved a personal milestone by sharing the Lakers’ hardwood with his son Bronny, who was picked in 2024. If his younger son Bryce joins the NBA by 2026, the James family might establish a new benchmark in basketball history.
So, has LeBron’s final chapter been written, or does one more season—and possibly another championship—remain? Critics may scoff, but history shows that betting against LeBron James rarely pays out. If he wins a fifth NBA championship, some analysts may have to reconsider their predictions.
