Since the summer, there's been speculation about whether LeBron James will play the entire 2025-26 NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
A statement by his agent, Rich Paul, after James opted into his player option seemed to raise the possibility of wanting a trade if certain things didn't go his way.
But the reality was always going to be more complicated. What would a trade for a 40-year-old James look like?
It doesn't appear we'll get to find out.
Paul joined Max Kellerman for an interview recently and affirmed that James isn't going anywhere.
“No," Paul said to the idea of James being traded. "Where’s he gonna go? Does LeBron make the Knicks better? Yes, he would, of course, but 29 other teams would say the same thing."
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The Lakers, at least when healthy, seem to have a chance of being a strong contender this season.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are both playing as well as they ever have. Deandre Ayton has fit into his role nicely.
And LeBron, upon his return from injury, has shown he can blend in.
James is focused on distributing and making his teammates better, even more so than he has for most of his career.
He proved in Sunday's win over the 76ers that he can also score, going for 10 consecutive Lakers points late in the game, but he doesn't seem to mind not being the first option anymore.
If there was a point where James thought he might be unhappy this season, that appears to have gone by the wayside.
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