Month: June 2025

Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN on Sunday that LeBron James is exercising his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Paul told ESPN: “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. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career .. We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”

James’ decision comes after the Lakers’ first season with Luka Dončić ended in disappointment; the Lakers acquired Dončić from the Mavericks in a three-team trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas. Los Angeles finished the season with a 50-32 record — the third seed in the West.

James and the Lakers also made headlines this season after hiring J.J. Redick to succeed Darvin Ham as their head coach, despite no coaching experience at a senior level. The former NBA guard’s only coaching experience was as a volunteer for his son’s fourth-grade team in Brooklyn. Redick also had previously co-hosted the “Mind The Game” podcast with James.

LeBron, 40, joined the Lakers in 2018 after playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, where he helped the Heat win two NBA titles in 2012/2013. James then returned to Cleveland to help the Cavs earn their first championship in 2016. Two years after arriving in Los Angeles, the Lakers earned the championship in 2020.

James signed a two-year, $103.3 million extension with the Lakers in 2024. The deal included a player option for the 2025-26 season. In his 22nd season, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists.

The 2025-26 season will mark James’ eighth in Los Angeles, and a record-setting 23rd consecutive season as an active player in the NBA.  He is also just 50 games away from breaking Robert Parish’s record for most career regular-season games.

Editorial credit: A.RICARDO / Shutterstock.com

Bojan Bogdanović announced Sunday he is retiring from the NBA after 10 seasons.

Bogdanović, 36, said in a statement: “Sometimes in life, you don’t choose the moment. The moment chooses you. After 14 months of battling a foot injury, two surgeries, and countless efforts to get back on the court, the time has come to close a chapter. After more than two decades in the game, the moment has arrived to say goodbye to basketball. Not just as a sport, but as a part of who I am. Every stop left a mark, every jersey carried its own weight ..Above all, I had the honor of wearing the Croatian crest on my chest.”

Bogdanović, who was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina and played for Croatia internationally, was selected as the 31st overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He chose to play professionally in the Euro League until 2014, after Minnesota traded him to the Nets (then in New Jersey) in exchange for cash and a 2013 second-round pick. He played his first NBA game during the 2014-15 campaign.  He spent the first 55 games of the 2016-17 season with the Nets, then finished the campaign with the Washington Wizards after a trade-deadline deal. He also played with the Indiana Pacers (2017-19), Utah Jazz (2019-22), Detroit Pistons (2022-24) and New York Knicks (2024). He also played for the Croatian national team during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, averaging 24.8 points in five contests.

Bogdanović technically finishes his NBA career with the same team he started with, after the Knicks traded him back to the Nets ahead of the 2024-25 campaign (as part of the deal that brought Mikal Bridges to NY). However, Bogdanović didn’t play last season due to his season-ending foot injury.

During his time with the Nets, Bogdanovic averaged 11.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game on 44.1/36.6/84.7 shooting splits while also making the All-Rookie team for the 2014-15 campaign.   Bogdanovic ends his NBA career with averages of 15.6 points, 3.6 RPG, and 1.7 APG while shooting 46.0% from the field and 39.4% from three-point range.

Editorial credit: Ivica Drusany / Shutterstock.com

The Dallas Stars have re-signed captain Jamie Benn on a one-year contract worth up to $4 million in bonuses. The deal carries a base salary of $1 million with an additional $3 million available in performance incentives. Benn had just completed an eight-year contract that carries a $9.5 million cap hit.

The Stars made the news official with a post on social media: “Jamie Benn, Forever a Star We have signed Captain Jamie Benn to a one-year contract extension through the 2025-2026 season.”

Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a release: “Jamie embodies everything it means to be a Dallas Star, and has since he was drafted 18 years ago. There was never a doubt that Jamie would return next season, and we are thrilled for both our organization and our fans that he will continue to lead our team in our pursuit of winning a championship.”

Benn’s deal has a base salary of $1 million plus an additional $3 million in potential performance bonuses. He will receive $500,000 each for hitting 20, 30, 50 and 60-games played during the 2025-26 season, an additional $500,000 if the Stars win the Western Conference final, and $500,000 more if the team wins the Stanley Cup.

Benn, who turns 36 next month, was selected by the Stars in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL draft.  He had 49 points (16 goals, 33 assists) last season (his 16th with the franchise).  The forward also ranks second in franchise history in goals (399), points (956) and games played (1,192) behind Hall of Famer Mike Modano (557, 1,359, 1,459) and is third in assists (557).  He has been Dallas’ captain since Sept. 19, 2013.

Editorial credit: kovop / Shutterstock.com

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Thursday that they have signed coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht to multi-year contract extensions. The team didn’t provide terms, but sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Bowles’ deal is a three-year extension through the 2028 season.

Buccaneers owner Joel Glazer said in a release: “Jason and Todd’s leadership has been critical to our organization’s success. The winning culture they have established has us well positioned for the future. The continuity and stability they provide will play a large role in our ability to compete for additional championships.”

Bowles is the fourth coach to work under Licht, who joined the Buccaneers in 2014.  Bowles owns an overall record of 53-65 in eight years as an NFL head coach, including previous stops with the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets. He led the Buccaneers to a 27-24 record and three division titles over the last three seasons, and shared in a statement: “I am excited to continue working with Jason for years to come as we build on the success we’ve enjoyed and keep reaching for even bigger and better goals. My family loves Tampa and we’re looking forward to delivering more great moments for our fans in the coming seasons.  I also appreciate the confidence that the Glazer Family has shown in my abilities to lead this football team. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly and am honored to have.”

Licht said: “I am very grateful to the Glazer Family for the trust and belief they have shown in what we are doing here. I am also very excited to continue working alongside Todd well into the future as we continue our mission of finding and developing talented players and chasing additional championships for our fans.”

Editorial credit: kovop / Shutterstock.com