Is the King preparing for one final run?
As LeBron James prepares to enter his 23rd NBA season, speculation about his retirement has picked up after a cryptic social media video surfaced this week. The post shows flashing cameras and reporters asking, “Are the retirement rumors true? What’s next?” It was a moment clearly designed to spark buzz.
The timing was deliberate. The video dropped shortly after Game 4 of the NBA Finals, with just three days before Game 5 tips off in Oklahoma City. And with TV ratings down, it’s no surprise that LeBron, even from the sidelines, managed to seize headlines again.
A Farewell Tour on the Horizon?
LeBron will turn 41 next season and is entering the final year of his contract with the Lakers. If he retires next summer, he’ll do so having played 23 seasons, matching the number on his jersey and breaking Vince Carter’s all-time record for most seasons played in NBA history.
A farewell tour would feel inevitable. Like Kobe, Wade, and Jordan, LeBron’s departure would be marked by tributes, league-wide celebrations, and a spotlight worthy of one of the greatest players ever.
The Numbers Still Speak for Themselves
Even at 40, LeBron was still performing at an elite level:
- 70 games played
- 24.4 PPG, 8.2 APG, 7.8 RPG
- Second Team All-NBA (his 21st All-NBA selection — the most in league history)
- Became the oldest player to score 40+ points in a game (Feb. 6 vs. Warriors)
- Extended his double-digit scoring streak to 1,292 games
- Surpassed Michael Jordan for most 30-point games in NBA history (now at 571)
Only six players in NBA history have even reached a 21st season — none did it like this.
Another Early Exit for the Lakers
Still, his Lakers are once again in offseason mode. The team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second year in a row, this time by Minnesota, and again in just five games.
The disappointment is sharper this year. After swinging a massive pre–All-Star trade for Luka Dončić (in exchange for Anthony Davis), expectations soared. But the LeBron-Luka pairing didn’t deliver immediate results.
Now, the focus shifts to roster construction, financial flexibility, and the leadership of new head coach JJ Redick.
One More Title? Or One Last Dance?
If LeBron returns for one last run, he may need to restructure his contract to help the Lakers stay under the luxury tax and make meaningful additions, including the reliable center they’ve lacked.
The stakes are clear:
- Luka’s first ring
- LeBron’s fifth
- Lakers’ 18th (to tie Boston for most all-time)
For now, the biggest question is simple: Was that video a marketing move or LeBron’s first step toward goodbye?
Either way, the league is watching. And if this is the end, the farewell won’t be quiet.