LeBron remains with the Lakers and is in his 23rd NBA season.

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La Jornada Newspaper, Monday, June 30, 2025, p. a12

Los Angeles, NBA icon LeBron James, 40, has exercised his option to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers for one more season in exchange for $52.6 million, U.S. media reported yesterday.

King James , the leader of the Los Angeles franchise since 2018, also had the option of declaring free agency and negotiating with other teams or retiring.

However, the NBA's all-time leading scorer has opted to remain on the court for a twenty-third season, according to reports from ESPN and The Athletic.

As he has done in recent years, LeBron did not confirm what his plans were after finishing last season with the Lakers, which ended with a first-round playoff exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He seeks to continue fighting for titles

Rich Paul, the forward's agent, told ESPN that James' intention is to continue fighting for titles even though the starting five is also building its future around its new star, Luka Doncic.

LeBron wants to compete for a championship , Paul told the network.

"He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values ​​a realistic chance of winning it all.

We understand the difficulty of winning now while preparing for the future. We want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage of his life and career , the agent said. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, support him, and want the best for him .

Last season, LeBron averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, an exceptional average at this point in his career, but he was once again far from contending for his fifth ring, even with the unexpected reinforcement of Luka Doncic in the February transfer market.

James will turn 41 in December. He has been selected All-NBA in 21 of his 22 seasons in the league, including a second-round selection last season.

No other player has been selected All-NBA more than 15 times.

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Monday, June 30, 2025, p. a31

Los Angeles, New York Yankees star Aaron Judge hit two home runs in a 12-5 win over the Oakland Athletics, giving him his 30th home run of the season.

Judge , the current American League MVP, is second in that category behind fellow American Cal Raleigh, who has 32 home runs for the Seattle Mariners.

In front of 42,000 fans, Judge blasted home runs in the fourth and seventh innings at Yankee Stadium, driving in a total of four runs. Bahamian Jazz Chisholm Jr. also drove in four runs with a home run and two hits . The Bronx Bombers turned the page on the unusual shutout they received from Oakland (7-0) on Saturday afternoon.

Sometimes you're going to get hit, sometimes things aren't going to go your way. You just have to go out the next day and get to work , Judge emphasized. The Yankees, last year's World Series runner-up, hold the AL East lead with 48 wins and 35 losses.

In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on the road, fueled by a two-run home run by Puerto Rican Kike Hernández, which neutralized the home team's initial run.

Japanese Shohei Ohtani went hitless in his four at-bats this time, as did Mookie Betts. Cuban Andy Pagés, a fellow All-Star finalist, contributed two hits and two runs for the reigning champions.

The day also saw Washington Nationals slugger James Wood become the first player since Barry Bonds to be intentionally walked four times in a game. Wood's performance was key in the Nationals' 7-4 extra-inning victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal also excelled yesterday, striking out 13 Minnesota Twins batters over seven innings, allowing only one hit . Led by the reigning Cy Young Award winner, the Tigers defeated the Twins 3-0.