LeBron James has already accomplished almost everything there is left to accomplish in basketball. But former teammate Iman Shumpert thinks that there is one ultimate final chapter left: one last Olympic appearance in 2028.
LeBron is under contract with the Philadelphia 76ers for the next two seasons, even though he has a player option for the 2027-28 season. Technically, he could still be playing or might be retired when the 2028 Olympics arrive in Los Angeles.
And if he still is playing, Shumpert thinks that Team USA should welcome him back, not to carry the team as he has done for so many years, but to celebrate arguably one of the greatest careers sports has ever seen.
Speaking about the possibility on his Shump Street Podcast, Shumpert said that LeBron deserves to enjoy that experience, just to have fun and take in his legacy, rather than shoulder the burden of leading another gold medal run himself.
“I think it’d be unbelievable. I don’t think we need to see him on the Olympic team having to carry a load. But I would love for him to be there in a honorable and send his guys off the right way, so to speak. I just don’t feel like LeBron should have to do much if he plays in the 2028 Olympics. Like, he should just be able to enjoy himself, be on the team.”
“Like, he’s a player coach. Like, and y’all know why he’s here. Like even for the players overseas, like let them get their last moments to play on the court with LeBron James. Like it’s an honor. Like you know what I’m saying? And I know they gonna be happy because he been terrorizing they a** for three decades. They gonna be like, “Hey man, it’s about time. Let him go. This your farewell tour. Go home. Go home. Go to sleep.”
By the time the 2028 Olympics begin, LeBron would be entering unprecedented territory. He would be 43, completing his 25th NBA season. And if he wished to play after that, he would be entering his 26th professional season.
What Shumpert is saying is that the Olympic experience should reflect LeBron’s legacy. He even said that he could serve as a coach or assistant coach, just to be part of that experience and take in all that it hopes to offer.
A farewell at the 2028 Olympics, held in Los Angeles, would be the biggest stage imaginable for LeBron to close out one of the greatest careers in basketball history. Millions of fans would have one last chance to watch the King wear the Team USA jersey in front of a home crowd.
But there are a few major obstacles.
LeBron has already stated that the 2024 Paris Olympics were his last ride with Team USA. After helping Team USA win another gold medal, he said that his final Olympic run was magical, but it would also be his last ride, stating that he wouldn’t want to return four years later.
So that makes his appearance very unlikely.
By 2028, Team USA might not even be the favorites to retain the basketball gold medal. France, Serbia, Germany and other European nations are coming for them. And if Team USA needs a 43-year-old LeBron James at that time to save them, they’re in deep trouble.
It’s time to move on to a new generation. And Team USA will likely be doing that by then.
There are also other factors.
By 2028, LeBron would have either completed his two-year contract with the Sixers or decided to stay on for an unimaginable 26th NBA season. Even if he is still an effective NBA player at that time, it would be hard to imagine that he would still be among the 12 best players for Team USA. And adding another international competition would just be an extra load on a body that has already played more minutes than anyone in NBA history.
But of course, things can change.
If LeBron finishes his time with the Sixers without another title, or he decides that he wants to extend his career more than anyone can imagine, the appeal of one final Olympic farewell could get stronger.
A home Olympics in Los Angeles would be a fitting stage for one of basketball’s all-time greats to put his boots down.
For now, Shumpert’s vision is just what it is, a heartfelt idea.
If it ever becomes a reality, which is highly unlikely, it won’t be about medals or statistics. It would simply be basketball’s way of saying thank you to a player whose impact has endured for more than two decades, something that can’t be replicated in history.
