As speculation continues to swirl regarding the future of Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James, Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke has drawn a poignant comparison to another iconic Laker – Kobe Bryant.
In a recent column, Plaschke argues that James might consider taking a page from Bryant’s playbook when it comes to how he eventually exits the game.
Back in 2015, Bryant, then in the final year of his contract, just as James is now, publicly announced that his 20th NBA season would be his last.
Though the Lakers were a struggling, lottery-bound team at the time, Bryant’s transparency allowed the basketball world to celebrate him during an extended and emotional farewell tour.
That final chapter cemented his legacy and earned him admiration not just from Lakers fans, but from the broader NBA community.
Plaschke isn’t explicitly calling for LeBron to retire immediately, but he sees value in the precedent Bryant set.
He suggests that when the time does come, James could benefit from a similarly graceful and self-determined farewell – a gesture that would allow him to leave the game on his own terms while giving fans, players, and the league a chance to properly honor his legacy.
Los Angeles Notes: C. Christie, Brown, LeBron, Bronny https://t.co/4NHR6UVIIt pic.twitter.com/uxiS89NHmt
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) July 13, 2025
