Brian Windhorst: LeBron James is ‘poking the bear’

It’s summer, which means LeBron James is feeding the NBA news cycle with speculation about where he might play next season.

James is 40 years old, he just opted into his eighth season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and we’re 15 years removed from The Decision! But, oops!… he did it again. He hijacked the NBA offseason by teasing fans and media with the idea that he wants out.

Everything James does is carefully calculated. Which is why Brian Windhorst knows that James knows everyone is carefully watching his social media activity in search of Easter eggs about whether or not he plans on seeing that player option through. Tuesday morning, Windhorst joined Aaron Goldhammer on ESPN Cleveland to discuss James’ recent social media posts, which included a photo from the Cavaliers’ practice facility.

“By doing what he’s doing, he is absolutely poking the bear… by the way, the Lakers are being passive aggressive back at LeBron,” – @WindhorstESPN on LeBron’s social media activity. pic.twitter.com/LfFXhcaEzH

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 8, 2025

“LeBron absolutely knows that he will cause a wave with these social media things,” Windhorst said. “On one hand, he is just coming home for the holiday, he is just doing something that he has done numerous times in the past. On the other hand, he is absolutely poking the bear and being passive aggressive. And by the way, the Lakers are being passive-aggressive back at LeBron. They did not announce his option pick-up. So they’re both acting in the same way. Now, how is this going to get resolved? And my answer to you in full honesty is I don’t know.”

Windhorst doesn’t know how this will end between LeBron and the Lakers. But he knows LeBron limited his options by exercising his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season with the Lakers last month.

“If he truly, badly didn’t want to be a Laker, he doesn’t pick up that option,” Windhorst said.

James didn’t have to opt in. But, immediately after he did, his agent, Rich Paul, issued a statement that essentially questioned whether James and the Lakers were a good match for next season.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future,” James’s longtime agent said. “….We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career.”

James opted in with the Lakers. James prompted the statement questioning his desire to play for the Lakers. James posted a photo from the Cavs’ practice facility. And here we are, with James having no reasonable exit strategy from the Lakers, yet the offseason still being dominated by their relationship.