LeBron James reportedly opts into $52.6M player option with Lakers: What’s the most he’s made in a single NBA season?

NBA teams are in the midst of planning their rosters for the upcoming season, aiming to strengthen their chances of contending for a championship. The Los Angeles Lakers are no exception, and among the most significant developments right now is LeBron James, who appears to have made a major decision regarding his future.

On Sunday, NBA insider Shams Charania shared crucial information about the 40-year-old star via his official X account. “Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James is opting into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN,” he wrote.

Charania then added further insight into the reasoning behind James’ decision: “LeBron ‘knows the Lakers are building for the future… but he values a realistic chance of winning it all.’”

This means the forward will enter his 23rd NBA season, breaking the record he previously shared with Toronto Raptors icon Vince Carter. He will also have the chance to surpass Robert Parish as the player with the most regular-season games in league history.

LeBron James shared the court with his son Bronny during the 2024-25 NBA season

However, those won’t be the only milestones within James’ reach. The 2025–26 campaign will also mark a new personal record: it will be the highest single-season salary of his entire professional career. The $52.6 million from his player option is an astounding figure, topping his earnings from previous years.

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James’ longevity in the NBA has meant that, despite his advanced age, the Lakers have continued to increase his salary year after year, leading to this historic figure. In fact, this will be the first time he surpasses the $50 million mark in a single season. Until now, his highest annual earnings came in the 2024–25 season in Los Angeles, when he made $48,728,845, according to HoopsHype.

That steady rise in earnings has been a constant throughout LeBron’s career, dating back to his early days with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He entered the NBA at age 18 in 2003 with a salary of $4.01 million, which gradually increased to $15.7 million by the 2009–10 season.

The only time the Akron, Ohio native accepted a pay cut was during his move from Cleveland to Miami in 2010. That year, he reduced his salary to $14.5 million when he agreed to join the Heat. From then on, each season saw his earnings rise, both in his return to Cleveland and throughout his years with the Lakers.

These figures—and the sheer number of seasons he’s played—make LeBron James the player with the highest cumulative career earnings in league history. By the end of the 2024–25 season, he already topped the list with $531.3 million, and now that total will rise to $583.9 million.