Oct 8 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor
Much has been said over the years about LeBron James and his historic longevity. Drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, there is a significant portion of NBA fans who either cannot recall a time he was not in the NBA or weren’t even born when he was drafted. However, he obviously cannot play forever, and every year the questions and speculation have continued to grow.
On Sept. 29, the Los Angeles Lakers held their session for NBA Media Day, a chance for players and coaches to come together in front of the media and field questions about the upcoming season.
Of course, the question on many media members’ minds was whether LeBron James made any decisions over the summer about when he plans to retire. “I don’t know when the end is, but I know it’s a lot sooner than later,” he said. This aligns with recent statements he’s made on his future. Last summer, when asked about the possibility of him joining Team USA for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, like he did in Paris 2024, LeBron said, “No, I cannot see myself playing in Los Angeles,” but he continued, “I didn’t see myself playing in Paris 2024 either.”
In June, LeBron exercised his player option, keeping him under contract for the upcoming season. It is worth noting that after this season, he will become a free agent, and as of Oct. 8, 2025, it is anyone’s guess if he will sign another contract or choose to retire.
LeBron was also asked if he would wait to retire in order to play with his son, Bryce James, who is an incoming first-year guard for the University of Arizona and will be eligible for the 2026 NBA Draft. Fans may remember that LeBron had been quite vocal about wanting to play with his oldest son, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., and was able to achieve that historic goal last season, becoming the first active father-son duo in NBA history. If he did stick around to play with Bryce James, it would be a testament to his already otherworldly longevity.
But when it comes to delaying his retirement in order to make it happen, LeBron James said, “No, I’m not, I don’t know what his timeline is. He’s his own young man now. He’s down in Tucson. We’ll see what happens this year, next year, but he has his own timeline. I got my timeline, and I don’t know if they quite match. But we’ll see.” Despite being well past the age of what’s considered the “prime” of an NBA career, LeBron James has maintained a high quality of play. Last season, he finished sixth in MVP voting, made the All-NBA second team and averaged 24.4 points per game.
Regardless of what LeBron James decides in the future, the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans will have an exciting season ahead of them. It will be their first full season with Luka Dončić as a member of the team after a shocking deadline trade with the Dallas Mavericks brought the superstar to the franchise, creating arguably the most talented duo in the league between Dončić and James. The Lakers will start their season against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors Oct. 21 in Los Angeles.
Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu
