All-time NBA top-scorer Lebron James is one of the most decorated players in basketball history. With 4x NBA Championships, 4x MVP awards, and an entire generation of Cleveland, Miami, and Lakers fans behind him, many consider Lebron to be the “GOAT”, with his name sitting comfortably among the likes of MJ and Kobe. Whichever side of the debate you’re on, one thing is for certain: basketball won’t be the same once Lebron is gone. And now that Lebron is in the final chapter of his career, everyone in the NBA world is speculating about when he’ll officially retire.
Lebron James Has Signed a New Two-Year Deal with The Lakers — So He’s Not Retiring Yet
According to gamblingpromocodes.com, a Lebron James retirement isn’t likely just yet. Only last season (2023-24), most sportsbooks had him listed as “no” at -1,000 odds. Now, it’s even more unlikely, as Lebron signed a new two-year deal with the Lakers in summer 2024 worth a reported $104 million. This means Lebron will play the 2024-25 NBA season as well as (potentially) the 2025-26 season, too, unless he decides to retire before then.
One of the biggest inspirations behind the contract extension is Lebron’s son Bronny James, who is also signed to the Lakers. The father and son duo will officially team up next year, which is something that Lebron has always wanted. What’s exciting about this is that it’s the first time the Lakers have ever had a father-son duo play together on the court, which is guaranteed to send the internet into a frenzy.
After sharing the court with his son for one season, Lebron might decide to hang it up there and then. However, the most likely outcome is that he’ll also play the 2025-26 season before passing the torch to the new NBA generation. Ultimately, this will be the perfect way to end his career (especially if the Lakers can win the Championship, although that’s wishful thinking).
Lebron Still Has A Lot to Offer in the NBA
Despite being almost 40 years of age, Lebron is still performing at the highest level. Surprisingly, there hasn’t been much of a decline in his game over recent years, with the NBA legend still continuing to put up all-star level numbers, including averaging over 25 points and 7 assists per game. There’s even a belief amongst some Lakers fans that Lebron could stick around until his mid-40s, but this will depend on Lebron’s body as well as whether or not he has the motivation to keep playing. If at some point during the next couple of seasons it becomes apparent that Lebron can’t make 25 points a game without running himself into the ground, this is when the likelihood of retirement will become much stronger.
Conclusion
If you’re a diehard Lebron James fan, the good news is that he’s not retiring yet. At a minimum, he’ll finish the 2024-25 season before (barring any injuries) also taking part in the 2025-26, which is when his son Bronny James will also likely start to feature more. By the time 2026 arrives, the future Hall of Famer will have completed 23 NBA seasons and can retire knowing that he’s going to be part of the “GOAT” discussion for the rest of NBA history.
