The Los Angeles Lakers secured a high-scoring 143–135 win over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night, improving to 19–7 on the season.
They were led by Luka Doncic, who recorded a 45-point triple-double with 14 assists and 11 rebounds, while veteran superstar LeBron James added 28 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds in 32 minutes.
James has begun to show flashes of his vintage form after a slow start to the season following his return from a sciatica injury that sidelined him early on.
Still, retirement speculation continues to swirl, and James' postgame remarks following the win only fueled that conversation among NBA fans.
When asked whether Jazz guard Keyonte George - who is having a strong season and scored 34 points on Thursday night - is an All-Star this year, James replied, "I'm the wrong guy to ask that question, champ. I watch YouTube golf these days."
“The end is really near,” a fan said.
Someone else added, “Bron really retiring soon.”
Another person wrote, “This definitely his last season. He just wants to finish out his contract I guess.”
“His fans don't know this his farewell tour,” one more fan commented.
James is set to turn 41 on Dec. 30, and earlier this season became the longest-tenured player in NBA history as he took the floor for his 23rd year in the league. He was originally drafted No. 1 overall in 2003 straight out of high school by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
However, James' camp has made it clear that while retirement may be approaching, he still wants to compete at a high level and continue winning. That outlook appears promising given the Lakers' strong start through their first 26 games, as James has begun to find his rhythm, averaging 18.6 points, 7.5 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Newsweek