LeBron James enters his 23rd NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers as questions swirl about how much longer he will play.
On ESPN’s The Hoop Collective, Brian Windhorst said he has repeatedly heard that “this might be the last year.” He noted James has even been linked to playing in other leagues, though he emphasized that if the 40-year-old remains healthy, there are no signs of decline in his performance.
James has entered the final year of a two-year, $104 million contract that includes a no-trade clause after exercising his player option for the 2025-26 season.
Throughout the 2024–25 season, James continued to add to his legacy. He tied Vince Carter for the most NBA seasons played, passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most career minutes, and became the oldest player to record multiple consecutive triple-doubles.
In January, he surpassed Michael Jordan for the most 30-point games in league history. The following month, he became the oldest player ever to score 40 or more points in a game, while also reaching 2,500 career three-pointers.
James hit another milestone in March, surpassing 50,000 career points across regular season and playoff play combined. Later that month, he delivered a game-winning tip-in against the Indiana Pacers, his first such buzzer-beater as a Laker.
The Lakers’ playoff run ended in the first round for the second straight year, and James sprained his left knee in the deciding Game 5 against Minnesota. Despite the setback, he is expected to be ready for training camp.
James’ résumé already includes four championships, four MVPs, and 21 All-Star selections. His career averages of 27 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game stand among the best in NBA history.
Whether this season marks the end of his career or not, James will begin 2025–26 alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and his son Bronny under head coach JJ Redick. The possibility that this could be his farewell year adds even more weight to every game.
