Break up next spring? 🤔Famous reporter: The Lakers will not provide James with contracts after the new season

Today, ESPN reporters Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst wrote an article about the relationship between James and the Lakers.

reported that the Lakers have made it clear that they will not offer James the contract after next season (25-26 season), which means that the 21-time All-Star player will usher in a scheduled end date for the first time as the Lakers' face. Whether the 2025-26 season will be James' last season in the NBA depends entirely on him. But if he hopes for a Hollywood-style ending that only the Lakers can give legendary players (like Kobe did), then the time for this ending has been set, the spring of 2026. Doncic's arrival seemed to herald James' departure.

In the 2024 offseason, James officially reached a two-year contract renewal with the Lakers worth $104 million. The contract consists of 1+1, and the second year is the player option. After he executes the player option this year, he cannot renew his contract in advance.