LeBron James may finally be nearing the conclusion of his illustrious NBA career after gracing the league for 22 seasons. James will play his 23rd season in the NBA in the 2025-26 campaign. It has been a career to marvel at, with four titles and countless memorable moments that defined a generation of basketball.
Could This Be LeBron James’ Final Season in the NBA?
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, if James decides to undertake a farewell tour, it might happen in 2025.
“We had to start thinking about it. This could be his last year in the league,” McMenamin shared recently, adding that there have been no talks about an extension between James and the Lakers.
His agent, Rich Paul, confirmed that the topic hasn’t even come up, not because of tension, but because LeBron himself hasn’t pushed for it. “Since he reached 20 years in the league, he’s gone to every offseason contemplating retirement,” McMenamin said.
“This could be his last year in the league”
– @mcten says this can be it for LeBron 😔 pic.twitter.com/56L6GR7tiq
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) July 16, 2025
However, this season feels different from previous retirement speculation.
Behind the scenes, there’s a growing sense that James feels disconnected from the Lakers’ direction. After a blockbuster trade that brought Luka Dončić to Los Angeles, it’s clear the organization is looking to the future. James reportedly understands the move, as a younger superstar like Dončić makes sense.
James joined the Lakers during their darkest period in 2018, when they had missed the playoffs for five consecutive years. Two seasons later, he delivered their 17th championship. That kind of impact is hard to forget or replicate. But with everyone’s attention focused on Dončić and the next generation, James’s place in the organization’s future seems more uncertain than ever.
Notably, in an unprecedented move last season, the Lakers selected Bronny James, allowing father and son to play together on the same team. However, rumors regarding James’s future with the franchise and the league generally have persisted despite that milestone.
James is still expected to attend training camp and approach the season as usual. But it’s looking increasingly likely that this campaign will be his last, and teammates, fans, and even the league itself may not be ready for that reality.
If this is indeed James’s final season, it’s a storyline that will dominate the league, just as he has for over two decades. But in an unexpected twist, few anticipated that his potential goodbye could come not with a tribute tour or a farewell campaign, but amid a franchise seemingly ready to turn the page.
