NBA: LeBron James puts focus on winning, unwilling to 'start over' in Year 24

LeBron James may not be willing to play for the league minimum, but if he decides to postpone retirement, winning will be his top priority when considering options for the 2026-27 NBA season.

The Lakers star has not officially announced his plans for next season but is expected to inform the team before the NBA Draft next month. As he approaches his 42nd birthday on December 30, James has made it clear that he is not ready to hang up his sneakers.

“I can control my own destiny,” James said on the Mind The Game podcast with Steve Nash.

According to CBS Sports, James has ruled out taking the first major pay cut of his career or signing for the league minimum. Instead, he emphasized that his main focus, if he plays another season, will be pursuing a championship.

“There’s no way,” James said about playing for a team in rebuilding mode. “You want to be excited about going to work every day. You want to be excited about winning the day and being around a group of guys that feel the same way and are trying not to take steps backward. The building blocks throughout the course of the season are what matter when you get to the marathon or the sprint—that’s the postseason. So, yeah, I’m not going anywhere to start over at year 24. I’m done with that.”

A reunion with the Lakers is not guaranteed, as the team has other contract priorities, including signing Austin Reaves before he becomes a free agent in 2026-27.

If money becomes a secondary factor, several teams could pursue James in the so-called “James Sweepstakes.” While cap-rich teams like the Chicago Bulls may be ruled out due to their rebuilding phase, potential destinations could include a third stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers or joining Steph Curry and Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors.

James said the difference between the Lakers and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept L.A. in the second round last season, was not effort.

“We fought and played to the maximum ability of our team. We were not outworked,” he said. “They just possess so much more talent. At the end of the day, we failed in talent. OKC just has so much more talent than us.”

If the Lakers choose to prioritize James over other moves, they could offer him up to the $48 million max, thanks to “Bird Rights,” which allow them to exceed the salary cap to retain him.

Team president Rob Pelinka did not explicitly call James a top priority but said during his season wrap-up press conference that James is still capable of helping “any team.”

-Field Level Media/Reuters