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| Lakers superstar LeBron James (23). Photo: NBA.com. |
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, not even the Lakers themselves know when the King will finally call it a career. At 40 years old, LeBron is still the league’s oldest active player and will turn 41 this December. Next summer, he’ll hit free agency for the first time since 2018, leaving fans and teams across the league buzzing about what comes next.
In 45 days, LeBron James will become the first player in NBA history to play 23 seasons 👑
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) September 7, 2025
Will we ever see this again? pic.twitter.com/jnYWdyZvSB
“From everything I’ve gathered, LeBron is really taking it year by year,” Windhorst shared. “Could this be the end? Sure. Will it be? Nobody knows, maybe not even him. The sense I get is that he’ll wait and decide after the season is over.”
LeBron’s résumé speaks for itself. Four championships, four MVPs, four Finals MVPs, and the only player in NBA history to rank top five all-time in both points and assists. Over his career with Cleveland, Miami, and L.A., he’s averaged 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. Those numbers are legendary.
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| LeBron James. Photo: Getty Images. |
And yet, the King isn’t slowing down much. Just last season, he put up 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists over 70 games, finishing sixth in MVP voting and earning another All-NBA Second Team nod. For a player who’s been in the league for over two decades, that’s absurd.
Still, the whispers about retirement keep growing louder. If LeBron decides to keep playing into 2026-27, multiple teams are expected to line up for his services. One NBA executive even named three franchises to keep an eye on: the Cavaliers, Mavericks, and Warriors. Cleveland would be a storybook return home, while Golden State would create a dream superteam alongside Steph Curry.
Carmelo Anthony thinks it time for LeBron James to retire:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 8, 2025
“He's still going, it's unbelievable, man. That's my brother. We talk about being around, being together, being tied, being connected, being talked about since we were 17, 18... And for me to be entering the Hall of… pic.twitter.com/oMN22KyHP6
For now, though, LeBron remains locked in with the Lakers — the team he joined in 2018 and led to the 2020 championship inside the Orlando bubble. How long he keeps going is anyone’s guess, but one thing is certain: every season could be the last chance to witness greatness.
The King isn’t done yet. The question is, how many more chapters are left in this story?