LeBron James is set to opt out of his $51.4 million player option to return to the Los Angeles Lakers next season.
The report, which comes from The Athletic, isn’t all bad news for Lakers fans, as it is believed the four-time NBA Champion will sign a new contract with the outfit.
James has extra motivation to return to the side following Los Angeles’ decision to draft his son Bronny in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Bronny was taken 55th overall, and should the two play together, it will mark the first time a father-son duo have played in the NBA.
Lakers keen to keep LeBron
According to ESPN, the Lakers are willing to offer LeBron a maximum three-year deal worth $162 million.
Last season James averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds in 71 games. It’s the most games he has played during his six years in Los Angeles.
He shot 54 percent from the field and a career-best 41 percent from behind the three-point line in a season that saw him become the first player to surpass 40,000 points in league history.
Recently, teammate Anthony Davis said he wasn’t putting any pressure on LeBron and his decision.
“I’m just respecting his space,” Davis told ESPN. “I know we’ll be together all summer and I know if he decides to do something — whether stay with the Lakers, opt in or opt out and resign or opt out and choose a different path, I know he’ll tell me before he makes any [official] decision just because we have that relationship.
“So I’m pretty sure I’ll know before anybody else besides, like, his family and Rich [Paul].”