If you’re not paying attention to Los Angeles basketball right now, you’re missing history in real time. The city is absolutely on fire—men’s, women’s, all of it. A jaw-dropping $10 billion franchise sale just shattered every record in U.S. sports history, blowing past the Celtics’ $6.1 billion mark like it was nothing. And as if that wasn’t enough, guess who’s back in the headlines? None other than LeBron James.

The Lakers kept us waiting at the 2025 NBA Draft—but when they moved up to snag Arkansas forward Adou Thiero at No. 36, they made it count. Then came a smart post-draft pickup: college basketball’s top scorer, Villanova’s Eric Dixon, on a two-way deal. LA still needs a center after the Davis-Doncic blockbuster, but there’s time to figure that out. And just when the dust started to settle—boom, LeBron James was back in the spotlight, making moves worth nearly half a hundred million.

Meanwhile, over on the WNBA side, Candace Parker shared an Instagram story that stopped anyone who loves the game in their tracks—a shot of her No. 3 jersey being raised into the rafters at Crypto.com Arena. And if that moment wasn’t legendary enough, LeBron James reacted with three hands-up emojis, no words needed. Because sometimes, when one great sees another getting her flowers, that’s all there is to say. It was a full-circle moment for LA, for basketball, and for a player who didn’t just play the game—she reshaped it.

From the day she was drafted No. 1 in 2008, Parker was different. She burst onto the scene as both Rookie of the Year and MVP in her first season—a feat no one else in league history has ever matched. Thirteen of her 16 WNBA seasons were with the Sparks, where she became the face of the franchise, led LA to a 2016 championship, and earned Finals MVP honors. Then she brought a title home to Chicago in 2021, and capped her career with a third ring in Las Vegas in 2023—becoming the first player ever to win titles with three different teams. Her résumé is nothing short of iconic: two league MVPs, seven All-WNBA First Team selections, Defensive Player of the Year, and top-10 all-time in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks.

On the night of her jersey retirement, fans in gold shirts that read “That’s our Ace” gave her a roaring ovation. Dressed in orange as a nod to her Tennessee roots, Parker soaked it all in during a timeout. “When I got drafted out here, it’s become home,” she said. “It’s super important to see this jersey in the rafters before any others because my 13 years here were super special… wins, losses, heartaches and rewards.” At 39, she becomes just the third Sparks player ever to have her number retired—joining Lisa Leslie and Penny Toler—and with Chicago set to honor her later this summer, her legend is still expanding. Candace Parker didn’t just leave a mark—she left a legacy.

LeBron James stays for year 23 as Lakers chase titles and future stars

LeBron James isn’t done with Los Angeles just yet. On Sunday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that James will pick up his $52.6 million player option for the 2025–26 season, locking in his 23rd consecutive year in the NBA—an all-time record. And it’s not just another season; it’ll be his eighth with the Lakers, the longest uninterrupted stint he’s had with any team. His agent, Rich Paul, made it clear: “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.”

The deal ends months of speculation about whether LeBron would take a pay cut—like last offseason when he offered to trim $15 million to help land Klay Thompson. That fell through, and this time, James opted for a near-max salary. And who can blame him? In his 22nd season, he still put up 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and nearly 35 minutes a game. The bigger challenge now? Building a roster around him and Luka Dončić, who arrived in February in a blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas. The Lakers finished 50–32 and grabbed the No. 3 seed in the West, but expectations were much higher. James and Dončić showed promise, but with limited cap space—tightened further by James’ deal—and hard cap constraints, Rob Pelinka’s front office has serious work ahead.

By picking up this option, LeBron gave up the chance to negotiate another player option for 2026–27, which would have offered him more long-term flexibility. But that decision may help the Lakers free up cap space in 2026 to chase young free agents for the Dončić era. Still, the future beyond this season? Wide open. Let’s not forget, this past year was eventful off the court too. The Lakers hired J.J. Redick—who had never coached above his son’s fourth-grade team—as head coach after his podcast with LeBron, Mind The Game, gained traction.

LeBron James and Candace Parker may play different games, but their legacies are woven into the fabric of Los Angeles basketball. As Parker’s jersey rises and LeBron gears up for Year 23, the Lakers carry the weight of greatness—past, present, and what comes next.