LeBron James, the face of the NBA for two decades, is once again at the center of speculation, but this time, the biggest clue about his future may have come from his own son. Bryce James, the youngest of LeBron’s two basketball-playing sons, offered a candid and rather revealing comment during an Instagram Live session that strongly suggests the King’s reign could end after the 2025–26 NBA season.
Bryce, an incoming freshman at the University of Arizona, was asked whether he believed his father would still be in the NBA long enough to share the court with him, similar to the way LeBron and Bronny James have been linked. His response was both casual and telling:
“I ain’t gonna lie, that’s OD. Waiting until I…nah that’s too much. They said my dad still gonna be in the league when I get drafted… That’s too much. No. No. He’s gonna be 42, bro.”
It was the kind of offhand comment that sparks a firestorm, especially given the layered context surrounding LeBron’s future. James recently opted into his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers, seemingly committing to one more season in Los Angeles.
Yet, his agent Rich Paul later complicated the narrative by telling ESPN that James and the Lakers aren’t necessarily on the same page. Trade rumors started bubbling again. Retirement whispers resurfaced. And now Bryce’s comment seems to support the theory that 2025–26 could be LeBron’s last dance.
At 40 years old, LeBron remains remarkably effective. Last season, he averaged over 25 points and nearly 8 assists per game, still orchestrating offense like a maestro.
But the physical toll of 22 NBA seasons, playoff marathons, four Olympic runs, and nonstop media attention has to weigh heavily, even on someone who treats his body like a temple.
Adding fuel to the fire is the viral video in which LeBron casually mentioned that his wife, Savannah, wants him to retire. While that could have been lighthearted, in hindsight, it aligns with the idea that the family is leaning toward the end being near.
Bryce’s perspective adds unique credibility because he’s close enough to LeBron to know his intentions, yet detached enough to speak honestly. If his assumption is that his father won’t be playing in the NBA by 2026, it speaks volumes.
The idea that LeBron wouldn’t stick around to play with both sons, something once believed to be a bucket-list goal, suggests that reality may be setting in. Bronny is already with the Lakers. Bryce, a three-star recruit, still has a few years to go. And LeBron, turning 42 by then, may simply not want to or be able to stretch his career that far.
No formal announcement has been made. LeBron, ever the master of controlling his narrative, may want one last season to dictate the farewell on his own terms. But if Bryce is right, we may already be witnessing the final chapter of a career unlike any the sport has ever seen.
