LeBron James has played 19 seasons in the NBA and accomplished just about everything. And after his Los Angeles Lakers got swept by the Denver Nuggets, James seemed curiously uncertain about his future.
He wouldn’t really consider retirement as a serious next move, would he? That would mean his last-ever playoff series, his official NBA ending, was a humbling sweep. I get that he’s played a while, and there’s a lot of mileage here, but this sentiment just doesn’t add up for one of the best basketball players of all time. I don’t buy him walking away at this moment in time.
There’s something off here, isn’t there?
While James hasn’t directly confirmed retirement plans as of yet, the timing of these kinds of rumors is fascinating, given the Lakers’ current crossroads. Even with a run to the Western Conference Finals, it’s clear L.A. needs a major retool (Kyrie Irving?) before it can compete for a championship and help James win a fifth title.
NBA fans and reporters seem to think James might use retirement talks as a way to push the Lakers to improve the team (or simply get what he wants) with good old-fashioned leverage.
NBA fans think there's more to any James retirement rumors and the Lakers
Translation: LeBron James unsure if he can win a title with the Lakers next season & using false threat of retirement to leverage his way into what he wants.
That might be certain help on the Lakers OR being sent to destination he prefers. https://t.co/0h5GuJSIQ8
— David (@theIVpointplay) May 23, 2023
LeBron’s press conference hints at retirement are open for interpretation. A reaction to a taxing season? LBJ battled injuries and played way more mins than a 38-year old should. A leverage play? James, if he returns, will want the Lakers to exhaust all options to improve the…
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) May 23, 2023
LeBron is not retiring if the Lakers get Kyrie
The retirement rumors are LeBron’s leverage to force the Lakers to do what he wants them to do pic.twitter.com/bjFxz6gOpf
— Alex B. (@KnicksCentral) May 23, 2023
To me it sounds like LeBron is going to push the Rob Pelinka and the Lakers FO to go all in for this next season. I think he wants Kyrie Irving on this team bad and will use his potential retirement as leverage. Bron seemed very noncommittal on this current squad. #LakeShow
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) May 23, 2023
I could be wrong, but this feels like LeBron using leverage and applying pressure on the Lakers to try and get Kyrie. https://t.co/lcwBsidmXi
— Gary Kester (@garykester) May 23, 2023
This is laughable. LeBron is not walking away on a random summer day
It’s a leverage play at best and attention seeking move at worst
—Season long farewell tour incoming
—Bronny a year away from the NBA
—$50M in 2023-24 and he’s not washed https://t.co/Sh90X4Qt5g— Tyler Devitte (@TylerDevitte) May 23, 2023
Tell Lebron to stop the 🧢.
Lebron is using this as a leverage piece for the Lakers to go make moves he wants done this off-season and this is the way he is going to hold it over their head.
He is not going to retire, or miss time. https://t.co/pXShxflqgV— Eddie O (@SquadNation619) May 23, 2023
I don't think LeBron is retiring, it sounds like a leverage / power play on his part to make sure Lakers/ Rob Pelinka make some moves this offseason https://t.co/BO0JMOKczu
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) May 23, 2023
Will LeBron James actually retire? Sources close to him believe it's unlikely, so maybe this was just a moment of raw reflection in the wake of Carmelo's retirement. Or maybe the leverage game has already begun.
My view from LA here, at @TheAthletic https://t.co/mwRQHwHsu0
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) May 23, 2023
