Lakers superstar LeBron James will once again make NBA history by playing in his 23rd NBA season.

James exercised his player option for $52.6 million to play for the Lakers during the 2025-26 season, his agent and CEO of Klutch Sports Rich Paul told The Los Angeles Times Sunday morning.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer had been tied with Vince Carter for the most seasons played in the NBA at 22. This will be James’ eighth season with the Lakers.

Now 40 years old, James is 50 games away from breaking Hall of Famer Robert Parish’s record for the most games played in the regular season.

James averaged 24.4 points per game last season, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds.

Harden signing new deal with Clippers

James Harden is opting out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and signing a new deal that would be worth $81.5 million to stay with the team for the next two seasons.

Harden can opt out of the new deal next summer.

Harden averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists last season, his 16th in the league. He was an All-Star for the 11th time and returned to the All-NBA team for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

Hornets deal Nurkic to Utah for Sexton, pick

The Charlotte Hornets acquired guard Collin Sexton from the Utah Jazz for center Jusuf Nurkic and a future second-round draft pick.

Sexton, a seven-year NBA veteran, played in 63 games last season for the Jazz, averaging 18.4 points and 4.2 assists per game.

Nurkic was acquired in a trade with the Suns last year, so this will mark his return to Utah. He played in 26 games and averaged 9.2 points for Charlotte.

Former Wolf Beasley under investigation

NBA free agent Malik Beasley is under investigation by the U.S. District Attorney’s office regarding gambling allegations tied to league games.

The probe into Beasley comes 14 months after the NBA banned Toronto’s Jontay Porter, who was linked to a prop bet investigation and eventually pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud.

Williams returning to Oklahoma City

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed reserve big man Jaylin Williams to a multi-year extension.

Williams started nine games this past season and produced triple-doubles in three of them. He averaged 5.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 16.7 minutes per game for the championship-winning Thunder.

ESPN reported that the deal for Williams is for three years and $24 million, with the third season a team option.

Robinson opts out of final year with Miami

Duncan Robinson opted for unrestricted free agency on Sunday, exercising his early termination option for what would have been the final year of his contract with the Miami Heat.

The decision doesn’t mean he cannot return to the Heat. Robinson — the franchise’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made — could now negotiate a new deal with the Heat, agree to be part of a sign-and-trade for another player, or simply sign with a new club.