Though talks of LeBron James leaving the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason have seemingly cooled down, his future is still in question heading into the 2025-26 campaign.

More than his statistical output, the 20-year-old son of NBA superstar LeBron James played with more confidence. During his matchup with Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg at the start of the Las Vegas Summer League, he defended with tenacity and showed the mindset that he wants to stop the best player on the court.

These are all questions we won’t have answers to until next year. But as things stand, it surely feels like LeBron and the Lakers are set for their swan song. You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.