ESPN’s Tim Bontemps shared a poll of 20 coaches, scouts, and executives asking where LeBron James will be at the start of the 2026–27 season—and the answers are all over the place. Seven say he’ll stay with the Lakers, five think he’ll retire, and the rest are scattered across Cleveland, Golden State, Dallas, and Miami. Clearly, no one is taking LeBron’s future for granted. With the Lakers leaning toward building around Luka Dončić, questions are swirling—but LeBron’s camp is sending a loud, clear message: focus on the present.

ESPN’s Shams Charania shared what he learned from talking to LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, saying, “It’s important not to worry about the future when it comes to LeBron James. Just appreciate the present and also maximizing his present. And that obviously that onus potentially falling on the Lakers and what team they put around him.” In other words, while speculation swirls about whether he has one more season or two left—“it’s clear that he’s not sure whether does he have one year left, does he have another season after that? So, 2026, 2027”—LeBron is focused on what’s happening right now.

The facts back it up. LeBron opted into his $52.6 million deal and will be with the Lakers for an eighth straight season, marking his longest stint with any team. Still, he’s playing on an expiring contract, something he’s never done with the Lakers before. Despite all the uncertainty, Los Angeles remains a strong option: he’s a team leader, his son Bronny plays there, and his former podcast co-host is the head coach. Plus, with only Luka Dončić, Jarred Vanderbilt, Bronny, Dalton Knecht, and Adou Thiero under guaranteed contracts for 2026–27, the Lakers have plenty of cap space if LeBron decides to stay.

Of course, building around him isn’t easy. Salary cap restrictions mean the Lakers can’t make major roster moves until January unless a trade happens. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is locked in with a three-year, $165 million max extension, focused on creating a sustainable contender: “I had a taste of the Finals. I am getting back there. So, let’s do whatever we can now,” a source told ESPN. The contrast is clear—LeBron’s role is about the present, while Doncic is building for the long term.

Family is a big part of LeBron’s decisions, especially with Bryce James starting college soon. Charania pointed out, “How does he play into the 2026 NBA draft? So, these are all things I think LeBron James is going to be open-minded about.” Last year, the Lakers drafted Bronny in the second round, showing their willingness to accommodate LeBron’s family. Bryce, a 17-year-old, 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Sierra Canyon School, recently committed to Arizona, but the Lakers connection remains strong.

Scouts already see him as a more highly regarded prospect than Bronny, and if he’s available when the Lakers are picking in the draft, it seems unlikely they would pass on him. LeBron has previously expressed a desire to spend more time with his family, and having Bryce nearby—or involved with the Lakers—could weigh heavily in his future plans.

Whatever might be the case, LeBron James remains dominant, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists across 70 games this season, including 25.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in the Lakers-Timberwolves series. Rich Paul’s message is clear: for now, LeBron is still playing, and the focus is on making the most of the present while leaving the future open.

Curry snags the spotlight over LeBron

The timing of this message comes after a bit of a snub. ESPN ran a poll asking who the best American NBA player is, and guess who came out on top? Not LeBron James—Stephen Curry took the crown with 11 votes, beating Anthony Edwards’ eight and Donovan Mitchell’s single vote. Before Jayson Tatum’s injury, this question probably wouldn’t have even been on the radar, given Tatum’s First-Team All-NBA honors and recent title. But with Tatum out, Curry—37 and heading into his 17th season—claimed the crown. Even an Eastern Conference scout couldn’t hide the respect, saying, “He’s still the guy who scares me most.”

But don’t read too much into age here. Curry, heading into his 17th season, is still an absolute threat. Last year, he averaged 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and six assists per game, showing that his shooting, playmaking, and leadership aren’t slowing down. Even if injuries have made him more cautious, he can still flip games on their head. Fans at the Chase Center see it every night, and league insiders feel it too. He’s still one of the league’s top-five point guards and a player who can change the flow of a playoff series with one pull-up three or a perfectly timed assist.

The Warriors aren’t taking him for granted either. They’ve explored pairing Curry with rising talent like Trey Murphy III, showing they want to maximize every year of his career. As Jake Fischer reported, “Sources say that the Warriors have a strong affinity for [Trey] Murphy and have made outreach to New Orleans as recently as this summer.” Golden State is building smart, making sure Curry isn’t coasting into the twilight of his career without the tools to compete. With Curry still crushing it, leading the team, and refusing to hint at retirement, the message is loud and clear: the splash brother isn’t done yet, and we’re lucky enough to watch him dominate for a few more seasons.