Lakers star LeBron James has exercised his $52.6 million option as expected. He is poised to become the first NBA player to compete during 23 seasons.

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.

James, the league’s all-time leading scorer who turns 41 in December and will enter an unprecedented 23rd NBA season – breaking a tie with Vince Carter for most NBA seasons played – had until 2 p.m. on Sunday to decide on the option in his contract as part of the two-year, $101.4 million contract he signed with the Lakers last summer.