Rob Pelinka made it clear on Tuesday that the Los Angeles Lakers would welcome the opportunity to keep LeBron James with the franchise for another season.
Since arriving in Los Angeles in 2018, James has completed eight seasons with the organization and remains one of the league’s most influential stars.
During the team’s annual exit interviews with reporters, Pelinka praised James not only for his on-court impact, but also for the professionalism and commitment he has shown throughout his career.
“We probably haven’t seen a player that has honored the game to the extent that he’s honored the game,” he said. “He’s given so much to his teammates, to this organization. And the thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him back.”
As James prepares to enter unrestricted free agency, Pelinka explained that the Lakers are committed to giving him the necessary space and time to evaluate his future.
Questions surrounding whether James will return for another NBA season remain unanswered, but the organization appears willing to wait patiently for his decision.
“The first order of business there is allowing him to spend the time he needs to decide what his next steps are,” Pelinka said. “Does he want to play another year in the NBA? And that’ll be [decided through] family time, I think time with his inner circle. And we just want to honor that for him.”
Even at 41 years old, James continued to compete at an elite level this past season, earning another All-Star selection and reinforcing his reputation as one of basketball’s most enduring superstars.
“Of course, any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster,” Pelinka said. “That’s a blessing in itself just with what he does.”
Rob Pelinka: Lakers Would Love To Have LeBron James Back Next Season https://t.co/9bBacSAvYJ
— RealGM (@RealGM) May 12, 2026
