LeBron James’ impact on Los Angeles goes beyond his on-court performance for the Lakers. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is eager to keep LeBron in LA and potentially extend his stay in the city. According to The Athletic, the Lakers are desperate to have LeBron back for another season, and they are open to discussing any deal that would entice him to stay.
LeBron, who is 39 years old, is expected to play for up to two more seasons, as per sources. However, the Lakers are willing to offer him a maximum three-year, $164 million extension to ensure his return for a seventh season in LA. The team is leaving no stone unturned to convince LeBron to continue representing the Lakers.
But there’s an additional incentive that could sway LeBron’s decision – the possibility of playing alongside his son, Bronny. The Lakers are open to drafting Bronny in June, a move that LeBron has expressed a strong desire for. In 2022, he told The Athletic that his last year in the NBA would be played with his son. Although he modified his statement in 2023, saying he would love to either play on the same team as Bronny or face him as an opponent, the sentiment remains the same – LeBron wants to share the court with his son.
Bronny James, 19 years old, recently entered the 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. He played his freshman season at USC, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game. After suffering cardiac arrest last July, he missed the first month of the season but has since returned and is now considering his options before making a final decision.
LeBron’s decision on whether to exercise his player option for the 2024-25 season will likely depend on the Lakers’ offseason moves. He is likely to wait and see which players the team brings in as reinforcements for him and Anthony Davis. With his player-option deadline falling between the NBA Draft and the opening of free agency, LeBron has some time to evaluate the team’s plans before making a commitment.
Throughout his six years with the Lakers, LeBron has been a dominant force, averaging 27.1 points per game in the regular season. He has already scored over 40,000 career regular-season points, surpassing the NBA record. In the playoffs, he has contributed an average of 25.7 points per game and played a crucial role in leading the Lakers to an NBA title in 2020.
Despite the Lakers’ recent playoff exits, one high-ranking Lakers official made it clear that LeBron is not the problem. In fact, he is viewed as the antithesis of the problem, indicating that the team still values LeBron’s contributions and leadership.
As speculation surrounds LeBron’s future in LA, it remains to be seen whether the Lakers can convince him to stay and potentially make history by playing alongside his son. The coming weeks will be crucial for the Lakers as they plan their offseason moves and work towards keeping LeBron in purple and gold.