There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the future of LeBron James, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season. James made a surprising revelation about his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers after their loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
James received a warm welcome at the Rocket Arena, with the Cavaliers sharing a video tribute during the game, as per NBA.com. It was an emotional moment for the four-time MVP, who has had two stints in Cleveland. He played his first seven seasons there before taking his talents to South Beach in 2010.
After two NBA titles and four NBA Finals appearances with the Miami Heat, James returned to Cleveland in 2014. He delivered on his promise by bringing home a championship in 2016. He left again in 2018, signing with the Lakers.
Due to the touching tribute by the Cavs, plus James’ visibly teary-eyed reaction, there were questions about his future and potential retirement after the game.
James Makes Revelation About Lakers Tenure
Speaking in his postgame media availability, LeBron James was asked if he has plans to retire at the end of the season. James remains unsure, but he revealed a small tidbit about his eight-year stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“If you want me to be completely honest with you, eight years ago, when I left to go to LA, if you would have asked me, would I still be playing in 2026, I would have said no,” James said.
The four-time MVP added that after going to eight straight NBA Finals, he had nothing left to prove. He had three championships already and was already considered among the greatest ever.
“If you would have asked me if I was going to be playing eight years later, I’d have said no. There’s no way I could have foreseen that. A couple more years, yeah, I can go out and play at a high level for a couple more years, but eight years, no.”
It would have been interesting to see if James retired in 2020 after winning his fourth NBA championship. He would not have broken the all-time scoring record, which he did in 2023. He also would not have made history by playing alongside his son, Bronny James, a year later.
Cavs Interested in Adding James This Offseason
Just before the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Cleveland Cavaliers, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported the latter’s interest in signing LeBron James this summer. James will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, and the Cavs are willing to make the reunion happen.
In addition to a reunion, it could also be a farewell tour for James, who will be playing in his 24th NBA season. He still has a lot left in the tank, but the new obsession with golf and his sciatica injuries point to the possibility of retirement.
Nevertheless, “King James” has plenty of thinking to do once the season is over. It’s always going to be up to him to make the decision, along with his family.
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