Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has reportedly declined his $51.4 million option for the 2024-25 season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

However, Charania noted that James is expected to return to the team on a new contract in free agency.

Ever since leaving the Miami Heat and signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers, James has been savvy in how he constructs his contracts. He often signed for two years with a player option after the first year, which allowed him to make more money at a time and maintain as much leverage on his current team as possible.

This looked like the first time a general manager might in effect call his bluff.

As the Feb. 8 trade deadline approached, James dug into his…