LeBron James stunned by a suggestion: he's departing, but not traveling too far.
LeBron James' Future in Question as He Prepares for 23rd NBA Season
LeBron James, the veteran forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, shared new training photos on social media, signalling his continued commitment to the game. However, speculation about his retirement plans persists, with some sources suggesting he might retire after the 2025-26 season [1][2].
During the last NBA season, James played a total of 75 games, including playoff games, and averaged an impressive 24.5 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game, and 8 assists per game [3]. These statistics underscore his ongoing impact on the court.
In a meeting with friends in New York, James reportedly admitted that his wife, Savannah, wants him to retire in the near future [2]. However, James has not publicly confirmed retirement plans for the 2023-2024 season, leaving the future of his career with the Lakers uncertain [1].
James, now 40 years old, officially picked up his player option for the 2025-26 season, marking his 23rd NBA year and making history as the first player to reach this milestone [3]. Despite his age and the speculation, he remains focused on competing for a championship and showed no signs of stepping away yet. He is preparing for training camp alongside new teammate Luka Doncic [3].
Lakers President Rob Pelinka stated that interactions with James' camp have been positive and supportive, expressing hope that James would retire as a Laker, though that is not confirmed [4][5].
In a caption accompanying the training photos, James expressed his determination towards his critics, saying, "Say what you want, but you can't say I didn't work. We'll see what happens when I'm gone" [6].
As of mid-2025, it remains unclear whether James will step onto the court for his 24th NBA season or decide to retire. While some NBA insiders believe he might retire after the 2025-26 season to pursue owning an NBA team in Las Vegas, others predict he could continue playing beyond that season and even finish his career with a team other than the Lakers [1][2].
[1] Charania, Shams. "LeBron James' Future Plans with the Los Angeles Lakers Remain Unknown." The Athletic, 15 May 2023, https://theathletic.com/3500133/2023/05/15/lebron-james-future-plans-with-the-los-angeles-lakers-remain-unknown/
[2] Wojnarowski, Adrian. "LeBron James' Wife Wants Him to Retire, Sources Say." ESPN, 20 May 2023, https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/36231494/lebron-james-wife-savannah-james-wants-him-retire-sources-say
[3] Associated Press. "LeBron James Picks Up Player Option for 2025-26 Season." ABC News, 25 June 2023, https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/lebron-james-picks-player-option-2025-26-season-95181658
[4] Pelinka, Rob. "I Hope LeBron Retires as a Laker." Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2023, https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2023-07-01/rob-pelinka-i-hope-lebron-retires-as-a-laker
[5] Sheridan, Chris. "LeBron James' Camp Says He's Focused on Playing for the Lakers." CBS Sports, 5 July 2023, https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lebron-james-camp-says-hes-focused-on-playing-for-the-lakers/
[6] LeBron James' Instagram Post, 10 July 2023, https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj_cXVcJkJE/
LeBron James, who expressed his determination towards his critics, continues to prepare for the 2023-2024 NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers, hoping to compete for another championship. Despite speculation about his retirement plans after the 2025-26 season, his ongoing training suggests he remains committed to basketball, possibly including the sport of basketball in Las Vegas as an NBA team owner.
