Now that the Oklahoma City Thunder have eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers from the NBA playoffs, one of the big questions is whether LeBron James will finally retire. We think he will (at least temporarily). Here’s why.
After 23 seasons, LeBron James is still performing at a very high level. However, the 20.9 points per game he averaged this season is his lowest since he averaged the same number as a rookie in 2004.
The 41-year-old has also missed more than 15 games in all but two of the last eight seasons (all with the Lakers), so it’s becoming more and more difficult for him to stay healthy.
“With my future, I don’t know,” James said after being swept out of the playoffs. “Obviously still fresh from losing. I don’t know. I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously. As it stands right now tonight, I’ve got a lot of time. I’ll sit back like I think I said last year after we lost to Minnesota, I’ll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them. When the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do.”
Why we think LeBron James will announce his retirement
As an unrestricted free agent who doesn’t need the money, LeBron James can now pick and choose where and when he wants to play, should he decide to return. That puts him in the same situation that two other athletes who are considered to be GOATS by many, Michael Jordan and Tom Brady, were in during their careers.
Should LeBron decide to announce his retirement, he could put himself in a category that contains only Jordan and Brady: two superstars who came back and won championships after retiring.
Plus, by sitting out the first part of the 2026-27 NBA season, James can (1) rest his body so he will be significantly healthier during the second half of the season than he has been the past several years, and (2) he can monitor the NBA standings, see which roster suits him best to join, and cherry-pick a championship contender. After all, what NBA title contender wouldn’t want to add a healthy and hungry LeBron James to their lineup mid-season?
After this year’s playoff ouster, James said, “there’s nothing I need to show in this league,” but also added that “being able to compete and trying to win championships, that’s always been the motivating factor.”
By calling it quits, then waiting and having the media fawn over him with a “will he or won’t he return” narrative for a large portion of next season, then “coming out of retirement” to perhaps win a fifth ring (one behind Jordan and two behind Brady), LeBron would satiate all of his desires – those both stated and unstated.
LeBron James confirms he will be moving on, but to where?
ESPN’s Shams Charania has reported that LeBron James has decided to leave the Lakers to play elsewhere. This despite his son Bronny James’ Lakers contract became fully guaranteed.
Out of politeness and gratitude for their time together, James reportedly decided to let the Lakers know in advance of the opening of free agency so that L.A. could handle its off-season business without any uncertainty.
“LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history. We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers – including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold,” Lakers governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement.
Whether that means he will be joining a new team for an unprecedented 24th season in the NBA or chooses to retire remains to be seen.