Shams Charania hints that LeBron James could retire after 2025-26 season

Shams Charania hints that LeBron James could retire after 2025-26 season

There’s no player in the NBA’s history, and arguably no player in sports history, has been as great as Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has been for as long as he has. His longevity is unmatched, especially since he’s still playing like a top-10 player in the sport.

The 39-year-old just became the oldest player to record three consecutive triple-doubles, capping off a five-point win over the Memphis Grizzlies with 35 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists on 13-of-22 shooting and 4-of-7 from 3-point range.

He’s not going to be playing basketball forever. He’s teased retiring multiple times, but ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania speculated Thursday on First Take that he could retire at the end of the 2025-26 season with one caveat.

“My sense is next season could potentially be his last season in the NBA,” Charania said. “Could he play another season in 2026-27? Potentially. Bryce James, his youngest son, the class of 2025, maybe Bryce James keeps him around another year or two.”

James is already the teammate of his oldest son, Bronny James; Bryce is currently listed as a three-star prospect out of Sierra Canyon High School with offers from Duquense and Ohio State, according to 247Sports.

James already said after Wednesday’s game that he’s not going to play until “the wheels fall off,” similar to his friend, Dwyane Wade.

“I’m not gonna play that much longer, to be completely honest,” James said. “I’m not gonna play ‘till the wheels fall off. I’m not gonna be that guy. I’m not gonna be that guy that’s disrespecting the game because I just want to be out on the floor. No, that won’t be me.”

Wade retired after the 2018-19 season after 16 years. He obviously wasn’t as good as James is now at that time, but he still showed plenty of juice on the court, averaging 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists on 43.3/33.0/70.8 shooting splits. He had gas left in the tank, but felt like it was time to hang it up, which is a tough call for all the great players to parse through.

Sometimes, players’ bodies don’t allow them to play as long as they would like; others lose the drive and motivation required to play at a high level.

James is still one of the best the sport has to offer, which is crazy to admit with him turning 40-years-old next month. Though he deserves the right to say when it’s time to walk away, which could come sooner rather than later.

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