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LeBron James reflected on his potential retirement but did not commit to a specific timeline for his exit from the game.
“I realize I’m on the downside of my career,” the 40-year-old forward stated during a guest appearance on the ‘360 With Speedy’ podcast. “I certainly won’t be playing another 23 years, that’s for sure, and a decade more is out of the question as well.”
“I’m definitely preparing for the conclusion of my career. However, I’m not there just yet,” the four-time NBA champion and 22-season veteran continued.
As he approaches his 23rd season, following his selection as the first overall pick in the 2003 draft, the upcoming 2025-26 season marks his eighth with the Los Angeles Lakers. This follows an impressive 11-year stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers and four years with the Miami Heat.
Last season, he participated in 75 games across both the Regular Season and Playoffs, averaging 24.5 points, 8.0 assists, 7.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. Clearly, he shows no signs of slowing down, yet the inevitability of retirement looms closer.
“Retirement is on the horizon,” he noted, “but it’s not imminent.”
During the interview recorded on his recent visit to China, LeBron also shared insights on various subjects, including the claim that he had anticipated Kobe Bryant’s iconic 81-point game in 2006 and named Derrick Tarver, a player from his youth league, as the toughest opponent he has ever faced.
