Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James as officially opted into his $52.6million player option for the upcoming NBA season. 

James was widely expected to make the move where he gains the huge payday, with his decision to play on for the Lakers prolonging his retirement at least one year. 

James will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026 season, when he will be 41. 

James opting in leaves the Lakers with under $6million to spend on free agents and other moves this offseason, per ESPN. 

Klutch Sport CEO Rich Paul, James’ agent told the outlet that LeBron ‘knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.’

James has been with the Lakers since 2018, winning an NBA Championship in 2018. The team has inserted his good friend JJ Redick as Los Angeles’ head coach and drafted son Bronny James to the team last year.  

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James as officially opted into his $52.6million player option

James was widely expected to make the move where he gains the huge payday at age 40

James could retire at the end of this upcoming season, with a severe pay cut expected should he want to continue playing.

Rarely has a player over 40 garnered the kind of money James would like, with Tom Brady being an exception. If someone could replicate that, James appears to be in good shape to do so.  

James has held a contract at the NBA’s maximum since 2014, with that figure likely coming to an end at the end of this season no matter what.

James may be trading out the hardwood for Hollywood after he retires from the NBA, as he has hinted at making the jump to acting. 

James has previously hosted ‘Saturday Night Live’ and was the star in the movie ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ – which flopped compared to its iconic predecessor. 

A full-time career in Hollywood would no doubt be lucrative for James, with interest from studios an unknown. 

‘If the scripts start to roll in and there’s an opportunity for me to do some acting and I have the time… I don’t mind looking at it and seeing if I can make it happen,’ James said to the Hollywood Reporter.