We know LeBron James isn’t going to play forever.
But we also have heard him talk about the future beyond next season, which doesn’t seem that surprising with the seemingly ageless Los Angeles Lakers star still playing at an incredibly high level for a player who turned 38 last December.
So it might be surprising for you to wake up and see talk of potential … retirement?!
That came after Monday night, when Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets swept the Lakers after a Game 4 win.
Let’s dive into everything we know about all this possible retirement talk as LeBron begins another offseason:
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His quotes after Game 4 indicated he wasn't certain about the future
LeBron talks about his NBA career going forward. 👀😳 pic.twitter.com/naayQ9oabe
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) May 23, 2023
“I got a lot to think about… Just personally with me moving forward with the game of basketball… I got a lot to think about.”
LeBron considering retirement??? 😭😭
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) May 23, 2023
I wouldn’t even call that cryptic. That sounds like someone who is taking a step back to contemplate his future. And a reminder: He’s 38 years old. He’s played this game for 20 years. He’s won multiple titles, accolades, broken records … this wouldn’t be all that surprising given that context.
There's also this
LeBron James to ESPN on his thought process going into the offseason:
Q: When you say you got to think about stuff, what thread should we be pulling on that?
A: "If I want to continue to play."
Q: As in next year?
A: "Yeah."
Q: You would walk away?
A: "I got to think about it."— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 23, 2023
Hmm.
There's a report that he's considering it
BREAKING: Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is unsure if he’ll be with team when 2023-24 season starts in fall and retirement is under consideration, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. https://t.co/7M3WuEzwOL
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 23, 2023
Lakers star LeBron James is uncertain if he’ll be with the team when the 2023-24 NBA season starts in the fall, and retirement is under consideration, league sources tell Bleacher Report, TNT.
Here's his contract situation
That last part about uncertainty about whether he’d be with the team in the fall: He’s under contract in 2023-24 with the Lakers for $46.6 million, with a player option for 2024-25.
He's repeatedly said he wants to play with his son Bronny in the NBA
We’ve heard this for years. And now that Bronny is getting closer to the league — he’s committed to USC — it could become a reality … if the elder James stays in the league.
LeBron James says he wants to play with his son Bronny James in the NBA pic.twitter.com/TKClN5ADIL
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) January 3, 2022
