Very few moments in the NBA hit fans like a farewell tour. When an NBA legend announces that the upcoming season will be their last, the league transforms it into an iconic last dance. From Kobe Bryant’s emotional 2015-16 farewell season to Dwyane Wade’s “One Last Dance” in 2019, these tours have proven to be cultural moments that we will never forget.
As today’s stars inch closer to the end of their careers, we ask the question: Who will get a farewell tour? We might have an answer, and these players have carved out legacies worthy of remembrance forever.
LeBron James
Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Age: 40 Years, 245 Days
Likely Final Season: 2025-26
At the age of 40 and heading into 41, LeBron James continues to defy the logic of longevity, but every career has its conclusion. We anticipate this will be James' final season in the NBA, and if he announces it, we will be there from the start.
LeBron’s farewell tour would stand as one of the most anticipated send-offs in NBA history, perhaps more than any player we have seen. Quite frankly, he deserves something special because no player has been as great for as long as The King.
Sure, he has his haters. James is very polarizing for how much attention he welcomes and attracts, and also for the fact that he started the superteam era. But his dominance is unquestionable as the greatest forward in NBA history.
Every arena he steps into would be celebrating two decades of raw impact, from his early days in Cleveland to his championship runs in Miami and Los Angeles. James is more than a basketball player; he is a global icon. The NBA has never seen a career of this magnitude for this long, and his departure would feel like the end of an era.
Chris Paul
Feb 7, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) brings the ball up court against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Feb 7, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) brings the ball up court against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Age: 40 Years, 118 Days
Likely Final Season: 2025-26
Chris Paul’s final season in 2025-26 will serve as a fitting end to a career defined by leadership, intelligence, and near-perfection at his position. Though the “Point God” never captured an NBA championship, his ability to transform every franchise he joined, from New Orleans to Phoenix, cements his legacy as one of the greatest pure point guards in history.
A farewell tour for Paul would be a celebration of the art of playmaking that seems to be dying, with fans across the league recognizing that the old-school point guard was a great position in NBA history. Unselfish, focused, and surgical, Paul was everything a team needed in their floor general.
What makes Paul’s farewell particularly meaningful is the respect he commands among peers. Few players in league history have been as acknowledged as competitors and teachers of the game. While his career may have been underscored by what he didn’t win, his farewell season will remind everyone of the countless ways he impacted basketball.
Russell Westbrook
Dec 8, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) brings the ball up the court against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Dec 8, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) brings the ball up the court against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Age: 36 Years, 293 Days
Likely Final Season: 2025-26
Russell Westbrook’s farewell tour, likely coming in the upcoming season, would be an explosive and emotional spectacle. That's why we hope he gets an NBA job soon because we need to see the triple-double maestro compete on the court one last time.
Easily one of the most polarizing stars in NBA history, Westbrook redefined how point guards could impact every possession. His MVP season in 2017, when he became the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double, remains one of the great individual feats in NBA history.
A farewell season would allow fans to appreciate the intensity he brought nightly, even as his role evolved in later years. Love him or hate him, his impact on the game is undeniable. He left it all on the floor every night, and given how load management is a hot topic these days, we will miss that.
Stephen Curry
San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter of Game 3 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles against the Houston Rockets during the first quarter of Game 3 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Age: 37 Years, 171 Days
Likely Final Season: 2026-27
When Stephen Curry eventually announces his final season, projected to come in 2026-27, the NBA will celebrate a revolutionary player, even if old heads might not like the three-point-reliant schemes of play. Curry transformed the game with his three-point shooting, redefining what was possible for guards of his size.
His farewell tour would be something crazy, as every stop would honor the player who altered basketball at every level. Fans will remember not only the rings and MVPs, but also the joy he brought to the game. Most simply can't get enough of his three-pointers swishing through the net.
Curry’s farewell would be less about closing a career and more about cementing a legacy as basketball’s ultimate game-changer. His influence can be seen in every team’s offensive scheme today, so he deserves a proper farewell.
Kevin Durant
Mar 10, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.
Mar 10, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.
Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Age: 36 Years, 337 Days
Likely Final Season: 2027-28
Kevin Durant’s likely final season, which we anticipate to be in 2027-28, will mark the end of a career defined by pure scoring brilliance. At nearly 7 feet tall with guard-like skills, Durant has been one of the most unguardable players in league history.
With the Houston Rockets, we predict Durant will play out 2025-26 at a high level and then sign a two-year, team-friendly deal before retiring. In that case, his farewell tour would highlight his two championships, MVP honors, and countless unforgettable scoring outbursts that left fans and defenders alike in awe. Hopefully, he will have a third ring by then.
Some might disagree with his team-hopping and even his decision to join the Golden State Warriors, but we can't deny his greatness. Even Durant's contributions to Team USA and the global growth of basketball can't be ignored. For a player who has often preferred the game itself over individual spotlight, a farewell tour would ensure that he is honored fairly.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us onGoogle News. We appreciate your support.