LeBron James formally opts in for a 23rd season, will make $52.6M in 2025-26, AP source says

LeBron James is exercising his $52.6 million option with the Los Angeles Lakers for 2025-26, further confirming that he will become the first player in NBA history to play a 23rd season, a person with knowledge of the decision said Sunday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither James nor the team announced the decision publicly. ESPN and The Athletic were among those to first report the decision. James, who recently returned to on-court workouts after taking several weeks to recover after spraining a knee ligament in the Lakers' final game of this past season's playoffs, told the AP earlier this month that he expected to be ready for training camp. That was an obvious sign he planned on returning for a 23rd year, one in which he'll break a tie with Vince Carter for longest NBA career by a player. "I have a lot of time to take care of my injury, my knee, the rest of my body and make sure I'm as close to 100 percent as possible when training camp begins in late September," James said in that interview. If any doubt existed even after that about James, the NBA's oldest current player, coming back for at least one more season, it's gone now. He had until Sunday afternoon to make his decision on the option, one that pushes his career on-court earnings to about $580 million. This coming season will be his first full year with Luka Doncic as a teammate. Doncic was traded to the Lakers from Dallas in February, but the team — which entered the postseason as the No. 3 seed in a loaded Western Conference — still fell in Round 1 to Minnesota. James turns 41 in December. He's been an All-NBA pick in 21 of his 22 seasons in the league, including a second-round nod this past season. No other player has more than 15 All-NBA selections. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists this past season. The NBA's all-time scoring leader has appeared in 1,562 regular-season games, 49 behind Robert Parish's mark of 1,611 — the most in league history. If healthy, James would obviously figure to break that mark this season. NBA free agent Malik Beasley is under investigation by the U.S. District Attorney's office regarding gambling allegations tied to league games, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on the matter. "We are cooperating with the federal prosecutors' investigation," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement released to the AP and other outlets. "There have been no charges against Malik," Steve Haney, Beasley's attorney, told the AP. "It's just an investigation at this point. We hope people reserve judgment until he's charged — or if he's charged. It's not uncommon for there to be a federal investigation." The probe into Beasley comes 14 months after the NBA banned Toronto's Jontay Porter, who was linked to a prop bet investigation and eventually pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud. The Charlotte Hornets acquired guard Collin Sexton from the Utah Jazz for center Jusuf Nurkic and a future second-round draft pick, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. Sexton, a seven-year NBA veteran, played in 63 games last season for the Jazz, averaging 18.4 points and 4.2 assists. His best NBA season came in 2020-21 when he averaged 24.3 points and 4.4 assists for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Jazz drafted Walter Clayton in the first round and also have Isaiah Collier and Keyonte George in the backcourt, making Sexton expendable. Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier will captain the WNBA All-Star Game next month, the league announced. Clark received 1,293,526 votes from fans while Collier had about 100,000 fewer. Clark, the Indiana Fever star who is sidelined with a groin strain, is averaging 18.2 points and a career-high 8.9 assists. She also led the fan voting last season, her rookie year, but the All-Star format was the U.S. Olympic team playing against a select group of WNBA stars so no captains were chosen. James Harden is opting out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and signing a new deal that would be worth $81.5 million to stay with the team for the next two seasons, a person with knowledge of the agreement said. Harden averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists last season, his 16th in the league. He was an All-Star for the 11th time and returned to the All-NBA team for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves were finalizing a new deal that could keep him with the club through the 2027-28 season, a person with knowledge of the agreement said. The final year of the deal will be at Randle's option and, if it is exercised, could push the total value of the contract to $100 million, the person said. The Oklahoma City Thunder signed reserve big man Jaylin Williams to a multiyear extension. Williams started nine games this past season and produced triple-doubles in three of them. He averaged 5.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 16.7 minutes per game for the championship-winning Thunder. Duncan Robinson opted for unrestricted free agency, exercising his early termination option for what would have been the final year of his contract with the Miami Heat. The decision doesn't mean he cannot return to the Heat. Bobby Portis, one of the league's top reserves, declined his player option for next season and instead agreed to a three-year, $44 million contract to remain with the Milwaukee Bucks, agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed. If Candace Parker could put music to her jersey retirement ceremony, it would be "I Did It My Way," the Jay-Z remix of Frank Sinatra's hit. Parker's No. 3 Los Angeles Sparks jersey was raised to the rafters of Crypto.com Arena before Sunday's game against the Chicago Sky.