Perhaps the most significant issue surrounding NBA legend LeBron James‘s career as he enters his 23rd season is when it will come to an end.
When James took the microphone to speak to the media during the Lakers’ turn during 2025 Media Days on Monday, the subject naturally came up. And a recurring theme in his responses to the question was that LeBron will be (naturally) considering himself when he finally leaves the game permanently.
The 21-time All-Star isn’t waiting for the chance to play with his youngest kid, Bryce, and he won’t let future Hall of Famer Luka Doncic dictate his schedule.
When asked how much, if at all, the chance to play with Doncic will influence his choice, James responded as follows: “Zero,”
“The motivation to be able to play alongside him every night? That’s super motivating. That’s what I’m gonna train my body for. Every night that I go out there, and try to be the best player I can for him, and we gon’ bounce that off one another. But as far as me [referring to] him and some of my other teammates of how far I’ll go in my career, no, it would be my decision along with my wife. … It won’t be having a meeting with my teammates.”
It’s a reasonable response and undoubtedly what Doncic would anticipate as well. James will eventually need to take a break because he is turning 41 this year. The Lakers were effectively prepping for James’s imminent retirement by adding a new star to their starting five when they traded for Luka in February, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that, in his own words, the end is approaching “sooner [rather] than later.”
