LeBron James Reportedly Evaluated by Lakers Officials with 'Parlor Game' to Determine Contract Value

The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly took a unique approach during the 2025-26 season to determine whether they want to re-sign LeBron James and at what price point.

According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, there were times during the 2025-26 campaign when Lakers officials would "partake in a parlor game of sorts" in an attempt to evaluate James fairly.

The Lakers officials would reportedly ask someone in the organization to "observe James' play for a stretch, disregard his name and age and evaluate his play to come up with a salary number that [an] 'anonymous' player would deserve next season."

It isn't known what conclusion the Lakers reached, but James' next step is poised to be the biggest storyline of the offseason.

If the Lakers want to retain the 41-year-old veteran, McMenamin was told by a source familiar with the situation that "the Lakers' approach in how they show their interest in retaining him will be a factor" in whether LeBron decides to stay.

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Also, an anonymous NBA agent suggested to McMenamin that the Lakers need to have a fleshed-out plan in place if they want to keep James at a lower salary, saying, "The Lakers can't just offer James a number. They have to offer a why behind that number. Their plan for any discount would have to be coherent."

James is firmly in the conversation as being the greatest player of all time. In addition to being the NBA's all-time leading point scorer, he is a 22-time All-Star, four-time NBA MVP, four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Finals MVP.

LeBron is still performing at a level that no one his age ever has in NBA history, but it was clear during the 2025-26 season that he was no longer the consistently dominant player he once was.

James finished third on the Lakers in scoring with 20.9 points per game, behind Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. That tied the lowest scoring average of LeBron's career, which was originally set during his rookie year in 2003-04.

LeBron also averaged 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 1.3 three-pointers made and 1.2 steals, and he shot 51.5 percent from the field.

With Dončić missing the Lakers' entire playoff run and Reaves missing the first four games, James took on a greater role in the postseason, leading the Lakers with 23.2 points per game.

Although the Lakers got swept by the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round, James was the driving force behind their first-round triumph over the Houston Rockets.

That suggests James can still perform at a high level and be a key contributor for a winning team, but the Lakers must now decide if re-signing him is the best move for their championship chances, or if the money would be better allocated elsewhere.

Of course, James could take that decision out of their hands if he decides to retire, but if he wants to keep playing, he figures to have no shortage of options in free agency between the Lakers and numerous other teams.