According to reporter Howard Beck, James has been wanting to leave the Lakers for some time.

"He (James) is either doing what he has been doing, putting pressure on management - he has done this on every team he has ever been," Howard Beck said in the podcast show "The Lowe Post" by former ESPN reporter Zach Lowe. "Or, I guess there is another version of the statement here, that is, he really wants to leave. I haven't talked to anyone about it yet, and I take it back. One person said that he (James) not only wants to leave, but has also wanted to leave for a while. I don't want to say exactly how long it was, and I don't know if it was true or false."

Note: Howard Beck worked for the Los Angeles Daily News (reporting to the Lakers), the New York Times (reporting to the Knicks, the Nets), the Open Stand, Sports Illustrated and The Ringer.

James will perform the 23rd season of the 2025-26 season worth $52.63 million player option on June 29, and will compete in his 23rd season of his NBA career.

ESPN famous reporter Brian Windhorst said that after James performed the player options, the Lakers did not release relevant information, which is strange, indicating that there may have been rifts in James and the Lakers management.