NBA free agency officially kicked off on Monday evening as the negotiating window opened for eligible players and all teams across the league at 6 p.m. ET. Monday night was relatively quiet, but the first stunners of the new league year came Tuesday morning.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has exercised his player option for the 2025-26 season, meaning he will return for a 23rd NBA campaign. While he bypassed the ability to become a free agent, James does not seem entirely set on returning to Los Angeles for an eighth season.