175 million in 3 years? The Lakers bet on the future! Is there still a chance for James to win the fifth championship?

As the Lakers' 24-25 season ends, we can't help but examine the overall performance of this team. Although they encountered the "Black Eight Miracle" in the first round of the playoffs and were eliminated by the young Timberwolves with a score of 1-4, from a long-term perspective, the Lakers' season is not a complete failure. During the regular season, they advanced to the playoffs with the third place in the West, which undoubtedly laid a solid foundation for the team's future. More importantly, through a series of carefully planned transactions, they have successfully introduced the cornerstone of the future team building - Doncic. As the first season after the deal, it is reasonable for the Lakers to achieve their current results.

However, in this offseason, one of the Lakers' core players, LeBron James, is facing a crucial choice. He needs to choose between a short deal of $52.6 million for one year and a long deal of $175 million for three years. So, is this legend in the basketball world worth a maximum salary contract?

Looking back at the playoffs, although James failed to show his former dominance when facing the Timberwolves' young lineup, his performance is still remarkable. As the second in command of the team, he averaged 41 minutes per game, contributing comprehensive data of 25.4 points, 9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2 steals and 1.8 blocks. Although his offensive aggression has weakened, he ranked first in rebounds, blocks and steals, showing his balanced strength of both offense and defense.

Turning his attention to the regular season again, James almost became the soul of the team. With Brother Davis absent due to injury and Doncic also suffered injuries, he stepped forward and led the team forward. During the regular season, he played 70 games, averaged 35 minutes per game, averaged 18 shots, scoring gorgeous data of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists. His shooting percentage is as high as 51% and his three-point shooting percentage reaches 38%, and his outside shooting performance is particularly outstanding. It is precisely thanks to James' outstanding performance that the Lakers were able to stand out in the highly competitive Western Conference and achieve third place.

James' contract is about to expire, he has the option of a player and his annual salary next season is as high as $52.6 million. For James, executing an existing contract is undoubtedly a safe choice. After all, the annual salary of $52.6 million is already generous enough, and next year he will still have the opportunity to join hands with Doncic to compete for the championship glory. However, in the face of future uncertainty and personal career planning, whether James will choose a longer-term and more stable contract is still a suspense worth looking forward to. After completing this game, James' career will officially come to an end. Whether from the accumulated qualifications of years or his unshakable dominance on the field, the legend has entered the right time to retire. His basketball journey has undoubtedly written his own brilliant chapter.

And the other road before him is to bravely break out of the current contractual constraints and face new challenges. If this is the choice, James will have the opportunity to sign a three-year top-tier salary contract with a total of up to $175 million. However, when the contract expires, he will be 43 years old, an age where both physical and technical skills may face severe tests for basketball players. The wheels of time roll forward, and even a player as talented as him can hardly resist the natural law of gradual decline in strength. Therefore, it seems not a wise choice to continue to fight until the age of 43.

Looking back at the past, James once showed deep care and sacrifice for the team's future. Last year, he publicly expressed his willingness to lower his personal salary in order to help the Lakers sign ups and strengthen their players in the free market. Unfortunately, that effort failed to come true, and the Lakers returned empty-handed in the exploration of free markets. In the end, James showed his loyalty and support to the team with a salary cut of $3 million.

Looking forward to this summer, if the Lakers can make some achievements in the free market and successfully build a strong lineup around Doncic that fits his style, then James may once again show his selflessness and greatness. He may follow the example of former basketball giants such as Duncan, Jordan and Nowitzki, and choose to cut salaries significantly and support the team in pursuit of the championship's glory dream with practical actions. However, it must be admitted that although this possibility is long-lasting, it is really not high. After all, every player's career is unique, and James' basketball legend is destined to write the final chapter himself.