Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James was recently asked how much longer he’d continue to play. Without giving any sort of timeline, James did say he wouldn’t continue to play “until the wheels fall off”.
Shams Charania of ESPN believes that the NBA’s all-time leading scorer could retire after next season. James has a $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, as a part of the deal he signed this past offseason. The veteran forward has kept his contracts as flexible as possible on his last few deals, opting to have continuous control with short-term deals featuring player options.
Charania also speculated that James could have reasons to play beyond next season. There’s All-Star Weekend to be held in Los Angeles in 2027. In addition, James could be motivated to also play in the NBA with his young son Bryce, who is eligible to join the NBA as soon as the 2026-27 season.