Legendary Lakers player Michael Cooper: The team absolutely cannot let LeBron James go; more than 95% of players are not as good as him.

On June 21, Beijing time, LeBron James will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, leading to heated discussions within the Lakers fan base: Should the Los Angeles Lakers offer him a new contract? While a portion of fans think the team should move on, Lakers icon Michael Cooper explicitly stated otherwise during an interview.

"No, they absolutely cannot let him go," Cooper said. "I think the communication between both sides is going very smoothly. They should give LeBron the chance to stay. I believe he won't switch teams and will definitely return to the Lakers. The only potential issue is salary—but if the team gives him a max contract, they will have no cap space left to bring in other quality players."

"So I believe salary will be the biggest challenge for both sides," Cooper added. "But LeBron will definitely stay with the Lakers. Looking at the current league, more than 95% of players are not as talented as him. He's 41 years old, and in the first-round series against the Houston Rockets, he single-handedly carried the team forward. So now is definitely not the time to let him go."

At the start of the 2025-26 season, James' on-court performance was sluggish, leading many to believe he could no longer compete. However, the 41-year-old veteran steadily improved as the season progressed, and by the playoffs, he fully demonstrated his value.

Late in the regular season, Luka Dončić suffered a hamstring injury and Austin Reaves strained his oblique, leaving the Lakers in a precarious position. This made them heavy underdogs in their first-round series against the Houston Rockets, with few outside the organization believing they could win.

Yet even without Dončić for the entire series and with Reaves playing only two games, James led the team through a hard-fought six-game battle to eliminate the Rockets.

In today's NBA, very few players can single-handedly lead a team to a playoff series victory. The Lakers should do everything possible to keep James: over six games against the Rockets, he averaged 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.3 blocks. However, as Cooper—who wore the Lakers jersey for 12 seasons and won five championships—pointed out, salary will be a hurdle.

According to reports, James plans to request a max contract from the Lakers. Given his age as a 22-time All-Star, the cost of such a contract would be extremely high; moreover, offering a max deal would make it difficult for the front office to surround the core lineup with quality role players.

James undoubtedly desires another championship. Last season, the Lakers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. If he is willing to take a pay cut, the team's chances of improving and contending for a title would rise significantly. Cooper advised the front office to focus on acquiring young, defensive-minded players in free agency.

"The Lakers urgently need to add new players," Cooper said. "We need young blood, defensive stoppers, interior size—players who can actually contribute on the court. Inject some energy. We can bring in young guys; they'll make mistakes, but they'll show obvious growth and get better as the season goes on."

It is understood that the Lakers' front office is aware of the team's urgent need to bolster the center position and add two-way defenders, but whether they can succeed remains uncertain. If James agrees to a significant pay cut, the team's roster moves would be much easier. Whether he is willing to compromise remains to be seen.