LeBron James is exercising his $52.6 million option with the Los Angeles Lakers for 2025-26, further confirming that he will become the first player in NBA history to play a 23rd season, a person with knowledge of the decision said Sunday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither James nor the team announced the decision publicly.

ESPN and The Athletic were among those to first report the decision.

Free agency in the NBA officially begins Monday evening.

James, who recently returned to on-court workouts after taking several weeks to recover after spraining a knee ligament in the Lakers’ final game of this past season’s playoffs, told the AP earlier this month that he expected to be ready for training camp. That was an obvious sign he planned on returning for a 23rd year, one in which he’ll break a tie with Vince Carter for longest NBA career by a player.

“I have a lot of time to take care of my injury, my knee, the rest of my body and make sure I’m as close to 100% as possible when training camp begins in late September,” James said in that interview.

James turns 41 in December. He’s been an All-NBA pick in 21 of his 22 seasons in the league, including a second-round nod this past season. No other player has more than 15 All-NBA selections.

The NBA’s all-time scoring leader has appeared in 1,562 regular-season games, 49 behind Robert Parish’s mark of 1,611 — the most in league history. If healthy, James would obviously figure to break that mark this coming season.HARDEN GETS NEW $81.5M, 2-YEAR DEAL>> 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, a person with knowledge of the agreement said. Harden can opt out of the new deal next summer, said the person.

HEAT’S ROBINSON OPTS FOR FREE AGENCY>> Duncan Robinson opted for unrestricted free agency, 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 have let his option pass Sunday and then been guaranteed $9.9 million of what was a nearly $20 million deal for this coming season.

He 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.

RANDLE’s 3-year contract that could reach $100 million>> Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves are finalizing a new deal that could keep him with the club through the 2027-28 season, a person with knowledge of the agreement said.

The final year of the deal will be at Randle’s option and, if it is exercised, could push the total value of the contract to $100 million.

PORTIS STAYING WITH BUCKS>> Bobby Portis, one of the league’s top reserves, declined his player option for next season and instead agreed to a three-year, $44 million contract to remain with the Milwaukee Bucks, agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed Sunday.

HORNETS GET SEXTON FOR NURKIC AND A PICK>> The Charlotte Hornets acquired guard Collin Sexton from the Utah Jazz for center Jusuf Nurkic and a future second-round draft pick, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Sunday.

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. His best NBA season came in 2020-21 when he averaged 24.3 points and 4.4 assists for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Jazz drafted Walter Clayton in the first round and also have Isaiah Collier and Keyonte George in the backcourt, making Sexton expendable.

OKLAHOMA CITY SIGNS WILLIAMS to extension>> 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.

BAILEY ‘BLESSED’ TO BE WITH JAZZ>> Utah was not believed to be one of Ace Bailey’s preferred destinations to start his NBA career. Still, Bailey indicated Sunday that he never thought about holding out or forcing a trade after the Jazz drafted him No. 5 overall.

Bailey reported to Utah after he was criticized for his approach to the pre-draft process, during which he refused to work out for teams interested in him. When asked during his introductory news conference if he considered not coming to Salt Lake City, he only expressed enthusiasm for being with the Jazz. “Just blessed to be in the position I am,” Bailey said.