Overview

• NBA Communications confirmed that James is set to begin the 2025-26 season, giving him sole possession of the record for most seasons played in NBA history.
• Hindustan Times reported that James exercised his $52.6 million player option, extending his career into a record 23rd season.
• The 40-year-old spent the summer recovering from a knee ligament sprain sustained in last season’s playoffs under a carefully managed rehabilitation plan.
• A workout drill highlighted by Bleacher Report prompted social-media debate over the specifics of his offseason training regimen.
• His veteran presence joins a Lakers lineup reconfigured around Luka Dončić, signaling a shift toward a more complementary role.