Everyone knows that Lakers superstar LeBron James is closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but it’s not yet time for him to call it quits. In fact, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, James has at least two more years left in the tank, possibly three.
“LeBron James is gonna play at least two more years and he could potentially go three… next season is great timing. All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, that would be year 23 for No. 23. There’s a lot of good parallels for next season but if LeBron James wants to play a third season and wants to play beyond next season, I don’t think anyone would be surprised,” said Shams on the Pat McAfee Show. “Whenever he does retire, he deserves that farewell moment that Vince Carter got, that Kobe Bryant got. So I do think we’ll know when it is the last year because that’s something you’ll want to celebrate.”
LeBron’s retirement has been a looming subject ever since his arrival to the Los Angeles Lakers years ago. With unprecedented longevity and unmatched durability, he’s maintained his star status well into his late 30s and is on track to be an All-Star into his 40s.
After his dominating performance at the Olympics, it’s clear that LeBron still has plenty left in the tank and he admitted it himself in a recent chat with the media. The only question now is how much longer he’s got left and if the Lakers can win a title before it’s all said and done.
After 21 seasons in the NBA, LeBron James hasn’t slowed down yet. Going into the 2024-25 campaign, he still ranks among the greatest players in the game, with averages of 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game on 54% shooting last season.
As a 4x champion, 4x MVP, and first-ballot Hall of Famer, James has nothing left to prove in the NBA, and this season will see him achieve his greatest feat yet: playing alongside his son, Bronny.
For now, LeBron is still playing things by ear and his plans will likely change depending on how this season plays out on the court. If the Lakers are competitive, and LeBron stays healthy, it might encourage him to stick around for a little while longer.
If his youngest son, Bryce, is on a path to the league, it might also push LeBron to extend his career. The earliest Bryce could join the NBA is 2026, and we don’t know if LeBron plans to hold out for that long.
At the very least, we know that he’ll announce his final season ahead of time so that he can get a retirement tour on the level of Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and others.
After 21 years of greatness and an unprecedented track record for excellence, James has more than earned a ceremonial goodbye.
As for his title aspirations, the Lakers are not in a position to be called favorites in the West. Still, with a healthy LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Austin Reaves, they have a core that can compete with the best and make LeBron’s final act a major success.
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