Lakers forward LeBron James
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Lakers forward LeBron James
It is probably the most entertaining parlor game in the NBA these days. We all know that Lakers star LeBron James, at 41 years old, is nearing the end of his tenure in the league, but what we don’t know is when that will come, exactly, and where James will be playing when it happens. James signed on with the Lakers in 2018 intent on finishing out his career in L.A., but a variety of circumstances has appeared to pave the way for that to change.
But before any decision can be made on where he will play in the future, James would first have to decide whether he is going to play in the future. That remains entirely up in the air, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania.
James can still play, no doubt. He is averaging 21.3 points on 50.5% shooting this year, with 5.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. Those are All-Star numbers for anyone in the league. But James has left open the question of whether he wants to still play, and has said tat his desire to put 100% into the game will be the touchstone determining when he retires.
LeBron James Has Not Made a Retirement Decision
Though there is no decision pending from James, there is speculation about the Lakers star. The expectation is that he will give it another go next season, though Charania says the way James plays out these lest few weeks of the season will inform his decision.
Speaking on “Get Up” this morning, Charania said: “LeBron hasn’t made a decision on whether he’s going to continue to play. I think the feeling around LeBron James around the league is he’s going to go at least one more season. And a lot of how the Lakers season finishes will play a big factor in LeBron James’ future. How does their season end? How does his season end? How’s his health, how is he feeling, mentally, emotionally, and all that.”
Lakers Can Finish Strong
Now, the Lakers are on a five-game winning streak and have won eight of their last nine games to move up to the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference playoffs. That would certainly be a point in favor of James not only coming back to the NBA in 2026-27, but possibly coming back to the Lakers.
In the win over Denver on Saturday, James did a full-body dive to the floor for a loose ball, causing coach JJ Redick to point out that he’s not seen James do that before. Perhaps James is accepting himself as a role player at this phase of his career.
Charania said: “Did we see that dive he did in that game late? To me this shows and symbolizes where he’s at as a player. His acts of willingness to do anything as a player. Really, it’s self-awareness, we have seen different parts of the season—Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves playing really well together, Luka Doncic and LeBron James playing really well together. How can we get all three of these guys, get that chemistry going into the playoffs?
“To me, it shows awareness of where he is in his career.”