LeBron James isn’t going anywhere. At least not Yet.
The Lakers star, who openly pondered retirement after being swept by the Nuggets in the Western Conference finals in May, let the world know Wednesday night that he will be coming back for his 21st season.
James made the announcement at the 2023 ESPYs while giving his acceptance speech for winning the Best Record-Breaking Performance. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer got emotional about his career, saying:
"I don't care how many more points I score, or what I can or cannot do on the floor. The real question for me is: Can I play without cheating this game? The day I can't give everything on the floor is the day I'll be done. Lucky for you guys, that day is not today."
Here’s that moment:
"Lucky for you guys, that day is not today."
— ESPN (@espn) July 13, 2023
Go off, Bron 😂 pic.twitter.com/4X1Fqs0PqX
Fans loved it:
This is equivalent to @LeoDiCaprio “I’m not leaving” speech on “Wolf of Wall Street”
— Coach J.Brazil (@CoachJBrazil) July 13, 2023
THE SHOW GOES ON!!! 🐐 https://t.co/iyq4pAcuaz
The haters are already crying. The 👑 ain’t going nowhere https://t.co/XiuvtKpxdu
— Sammy (@sammy______G) July 13, 2023
One more year of giving LeBron haters their only personality trait 🥹 https://t.co/cqgmaDgKnz pic.twitter.com/RZUg9fHkYx
— gulshan (@TheGulsh) July 13, 2023
All jokes aside, he not lying about the “lucky for you guys” part. The NBA gonna be so different when Bron decides to hang ‘em up. https://t.co/wijIwIaJlP
— JB (@jose_B_24) July 13, 2023
We should be thankful for every second that Bron is on the court. https://t.co/aeXjkvL9Pt
— Iliya Sivenov (@Iliya_Sivenov) July 13, 2023
Goat is back 🐐 https://t.co/LdD10vpnKG
— Noe (@Nacho__Noe) July 13, 2023
GREATEST https://t.co/eyzAf58zAD
— Capn Munch ⚙️ (@willyumrogers) July 13, 2023
🗣️🐐 talk https://t.co/FGUjPKWcd3
— baggchaser337_ (@baggchaser337) July 13, 2023