Is LeBron James retiring? Retirement reports of Lakers legend explored
LeBron James is thinking about retiring and walking away from the game of basketball. He spent 20 years in the NBA, but it appears that he wants to retire while he's still a superstar.
After the LA Lakers were swept by the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, James said that he had to think about his future. According to ESPN, the basketball legend specifically said that he has to think whether he'll walk away or not.
LeBron still hasn't decided if he will retire. He'll likely use this offseason to clear his mind and make a decision regarding his future. James has two more years left on his contract with the Lakers, which could also be a problem.
LeBron James hasn't confirmed that he's retiring this season
The LA Lakers had many ups and downs throughout the season. With just two months before the playoffs, they were in the 13th spot in the Western Conference. However, they managed to qualify for the playoffs and even reach the conference finals.
Their season ended on Monday, which could be LeBron's last career game. The 20-year NBA veteran was fantastic, finishing the game with 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. However, this wasn't enough to avoid the sweep.
LeBron James to ESPN on his thought process going into the offseason:
Q: When you say you got to think about stuff, what thread should we be pulling on that?
A: "If I want to continue to play."
Q: As in next year?
A: "Yeah."
Q: You would walk away?
A: "I got to think about it."
While LeBron James hasn't confirmed his retirement, it appears that he's very serious about it. Considering that he was one of the best players in the league at the age of 38, this is quite shocking.
“I don't like to say it was a successful year because I don't play for anything besides winning championships at this point in my career," LeBron said after Game 4 against Denver.
"Personally, going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about.”
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The LA Lakers forward finished the regular season averaging 28.9 points per game, the fifth-best mark of his 20-year NBA career. Despite being 38, he still played fantastic basketball, which was very inspiring.
LeBron James still has a lot left in his tank, but may decide to retire while he's still a superstar. His performances at the age of 38 were impressive, which is why many fans expected him to play for at least two more seasons.
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Bronny James, LeBron's son, will be eligible for the 2024 NBA draft. Even if the four-time NBA champion retires, there is a chance that he'll get out of retirement to play one season with his son.