As LeBron James enters the final year of his two-year, $104 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, questions surrounding his future loom large.
Will the 2025-26 NBA season be his final run with the Lakers? Could it mark the end of his historic career altogether? According to longtime NBA insider Brian Windhorst, while the franchise is undergoing a significant transformation, James‘ desire to remain in Los Angeles hasn’t changed.
Windhorst, who has covered LeBron‘s career from its earliest days, offered insight into James‘ mindset amid a new era for the Lakers, an era that appears to be shifting away from building around the four-time NBA champion.
“A lot has changed for LBJ in the last year,” Windhorst said.
“A year ago, the Lakers were offering him a multi-year deal with a player option, drafted and guaranteed Bronny a long-term deal, and LBJ was offering to give up money to work with free agents. Now Luka is centerpiece of franchise & the transition has shocked & strained everyone & they’re all dealing with the new reality. That’s playing out partially in real time and in some public. At the end of the day, I think LBJ wants to be a Laker.”
Embracing change in a new era
For over a decade, LeBron James thrived in the Big 3 era-teaming up with All-Star talent in Miami, Cleveland, and Los Angeles to compete for titles.
However, James acknowledged that the league has evolved. Today’s contenders prioritize depth, versatility, and sustained energy over assembling a trio of superstars.
“I played in the era as well of the Big 3 era, but it’s looking like now the game is starting to shift again to how can we create the most depth,” James said on the Mind of the Game podcast.
“But also, how can we create the most energy life? How can we have the most shelf life out on the floor to be able to sustain an injury or sustain a run throughout the course of a game, where guys can come in, and it’s infectious all game long.”
The Lakers are banking on that shift in philosophy paying dividends. While the torch may be passing to Luka Doni as the team’s focal point, the supporting cast built around him and LeBron looks formidable.
Key additions like Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia join a core that includes Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and Dalton Knecht, who impressed as a rookie.
With James embracing a more flexible role in a deeper rotation, Los Angeles has the tools to make a legitimate Finals run, something they haven’t done since their 2020 championship in the Orlando bubble.
James, now 40, continues to evolve his game. Though his role may shift, his impact remains. Whether or not this season marks the final chapter of his legendary career, it’s clear that LeBron still has the drive, and perhaps one last title push left in him.
And according to Windhorst, through all the changes and speculation, LeBron‘s heart is still in L.A.
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