LeBron James Sets Record Straight On Future As Lakers Face Uncertain Path - LAFB Network
Lakers superstar LeBron James has offered clarity on one part of his future — and left the rest wide open.
The Los Angeles Lakers star, entering his record-breaking 23rd NBA season, was asked once again whether he might trade his jersey for a clipboard when his playing days are done. His response was definitive.
“No, no coaching for me,” James told CGTN Sports Scene. “I was inspired by the game. I love the game. But I don’t have coaching in my future.”
It’s not the first time he’s shut down the idea. On his Mind the Game show earlier this summer, James dismissed the thought of coaching with equal bluntness: “There’s no way, no way, guys. It ain’t happening. No team. Zero chance.”
For a player long praised for his unmatched basketball IQ, the decision might surprise some. But James seems content with the notion that once his time as a player ends, he won’t be leading from the sidelines. Instead, speculation continues to swirl about potential front-office or ownership roles — particularly with talk of a possible NBA expansion team in Las Vegas.
Still Elite, Still Chasing.. with the Lakers For Now
At 40, James remains remarkably productive. He appeared in 70 games last season, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists on 51% shooting while earning All-NBA honors. He also exercised his $52.6 million player option for 2025–26, though this marks the first time he enters an expiring deal.
Rich Paul, his longtime agent, reinforced James’ priorities: “LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all.”
Whether his final act comes in purple and gold remains uncertain. As insider Jovan Buha noted, if the Lakers underperform, there’s at least a chance James could weigh other options — even midseason.
No Coaching, But Not Disappearing For LeBron James
What’s certain is that coaching won’t define the next chapter. “No, no, no, no, no coaching for me,” James reiterated. “I don’t have coaching in my future.”
That leaves a wide lane for other pursuits, whether ownership, family, or simply a long-awaited exhale after carrying the league’s spotlight for over two decades.
For now, James is locked in on the season ahead — still chasing championships, still shaping the Lakers, and still leaving the basketball world wondering how his story will end.
Dodgers Predicted to Sign Top MLB Free Agent After 2025 Season
Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman
The Los Angeles Dodgers have notoriously been one of the top spenders in MLB for several years now. They showed that at the beginning of 2025, they signed many top free agents to improve their roster.
However, that has not led them to become the juggernaut team many analysts and executives thought they would be. Los Angeles is 79-64 and will likely not reach the 90-win mark with just 20 games left this regular season.
Whatever the Dodgers do in the postseason, one MLB Insider believes they will sign the top free agent after 2025.
Dodgers Predicted to Sign Kyle Tucker
The Chicago Cubs’ slugger is having a rough last two months of the season, but is still considered the top free agent.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale believes it will be to the Los Angeles Dodgers:
“Rival executives still believe he’ll be the highest-paid player in free agency,” Bob Nightengale reported Monday. “Their prediction where he’ll land? The Dodgers, who badly could use outfield help.”
The Dodgers could use outfield help, but signing Tucker to say, $400 million would put them far over the luxury tax. But it would address a much-needed positional issue. Los Angeles signed Michael Conforto to a one-year, $17 million deal before the season, and he has looked like a massive bust the entire season.
Conforto still isn’t above the .200 average mark, despite playing in 124 games. His OPS is 77, well below league average. The Dodgers also traded for left fielder Alex Call back in July, and he hasn’t had much production either. Signing Kyle Tucker in free agency is right up the Dodgers’ wheelhouse.
Although Tucker has struggled for the past few months, he’s still had a solid season. Kyle Tucker still has 22 home runs and an OPS+ of 140.
Kyle Tucker Has So Many Accolades As a Player
Bleacher Report recently came out with a prediction piece about Kyle Tucker’s free agency, and it showed how tenured he is as a player:
“After all, Tucker’s resume includes a World Series title, four All-Star selections, a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove. He led the league in RBI in 2023 when he was with the Houston Astros and has hit more than 20 home runs in each of the last five seasons. While he hasn’t been himself since the All-Star break with a .242 batting average, five home runs and 17 RBI, some of that can be explained by injury concerns. And he still has solid overall numbers this season with a .270/.381/.472 slash line, 22 home runs and 73 RBI. Tucker is also just 28 years old, which is another reason he will surely command a significant deal this offseason.”
The next question is how much the Dodgers would pay him, and that will be up to Tucker’s agent.
Fans of other MLB teams would not be happy with the Dodgers making a big-money signing like this, but it would put a lot of pressure on the Cubs to attempt to dish out a higher AAV contract. Tucker’s free agency will be one of the highest-anticipated events this offseason.
