LeBron James made the surprising decision to pick up his $52.6 million player option instead of signing a new max deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Included in the report by ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania that James was picking up his player option was a quote from his agent, Rich Paul. Paul stressed that James wants to compete for a championship and that he knows Los Angeles is building for the future around Luka Doncic.

LeBron James declared one aim above all others when he returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. "My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question," he explained in his now famous Sports Illustrated letter proclaiming his homecoming.