According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is expected to play next season. The four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP is expected to pick up his 2025-26 player option with the Lakers, who lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of this year's playoffs in five games.

LeBron James, who said earlier this season that he could remain elite through age 47, admitted he doesn't know how long he will continue playing after the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs.

For the entire game, the Lakers did not play with a traditional center on the floor. Jaxon Hayes, who started in each of L.A.'s first four playoff games against the Wolves, didn't see a single second of playing time in Game 5.