New Orleans Pelicans v Los Angeles Lakers | Luke Hales/GettyImages
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All summer long, the relationship between LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers has been closely monitored by fans and pundits alike.
After opting not to negotiate a longer-term deal to remain with the team beyond 2025-26, the 21-time All-Star finds himself heading into a lame duck campaign out in Los Angeles, which already has many curious about what might be in store for the future of his professional career.Adding more fuel to the speculation fire is the belief that, as currently constructed, the Lakers aren’t widely regarded as a top-tier title threat, which, considering James still finds himself playing at an elite level, has some believing a trade sending him to a more ready-made championship contender could be a preffered course of action for the veteran.
Fortunately, with just over a month to go until training camps open, and two months until regular season tip-off, all signs currently point to LeBron staying put and staving off a premature departure from LA.
And while some seem to believe this is due to a change of heart and an increased faith in the Lakers’ contention odds, there’s a case to be made that the future Hall of Famer’s post-playing days endeavors are what’s really keeping him around.
Like the former Lakers greats who came before him, such as Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, James is clearly showing signs that he’s eyeing the entertainment industry on a full-time basis once he officially announces his retirement from the NBA.
Dating as far back as his High School days, the superstar has always found himself living in the spotlight.
With this, it should come as no surprise that he’s already ventured into the entertainment industry, not only as an actor who has starred in several films, such as Trainwreck and Space Jam: A New Legacy, but also as a producer with his production company, SpringHill Company, which has funded several notable projects like 2022’s Hustle and the Starz comedy-drama Survivor’s Remorse.
Most recently, James has taken his talents to the podcast vertical, where he currently hosts the weekly show Mind the Game with Hall of Fame point guard and former head coach Steve Nash.
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Even while grinding through 82-game regular seasons and embarking on long and strenuous playoff runs, the forward has remained active in the entertainment industry over the last several years.
Now, as his playing career runs through its twilight years, he’s already dropped hints about how his sights may actually be on Hollywood after officially calling it quits on professional ball.
Because of this, there’s a case to be made that keeping in good graces with fans and local supporters of the entertainment capital’s hometown Lakers may be as big a priority to him as winning his fifth NBA title.