LeBron James has a player option worth $52.6 million for next season to return to the Los Angeles Lakers. The leading scorer in NBA history would become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declined his 2025-26 player option.

In his 21-year career, LeBron has never missed a playoff game, but the streak would have surely been snapped with a Lakers win in Game 5. According to reports, James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in Tuesday's game that would have cost him the series.

All-Star Los Angeles Lakers power forward LeBron James had a solid individual showing against the Minnesota Timberwolves in a doomed five-game first round playoff series loss, but the 6-foot-9 superstar has a big decision to make this summer after coming up short in the first round for the second straight season.