LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers faced major scrutiny after the rough Christmas Day home loss to the Houston Rockets. In their latest big test, the team struggled at home once again, losing 128-106 to the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons. Another round of tough questions regarding the Lakers has started in the aftermath, and one former NBA champion believes that it’s time for James to plan his exit from the NBA.
Former NBA Champion Thinks LeBron James Is Nearing His End
While speaking on his Club 520 Podcast, former NBA champion and All-Star Jeff Teague believes that James should strongly consider retirement. Teague said, “He gotta retire this year. I can’t see Bron having rookie stats no more.
“That’s just not good for my love of the game. He too good of a player, too legendary. I never wanted him to have Michael Jordan stats at the end of his career. This is Wizards Mike right here…I always wanted him to average 25 when he left.”
Jeff Teague says LeBron is having his MJ Wizards year and needs to retire 😳
“He gotta retire this year. I can’t see Bron having rookie stats no more. I never wanted him to have Michael Jordan stats at end of his career. This is Wizards Mike right here”
(Via @club520podcast) pic.twitter.com/gN4vbxNs9f
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) December 31, 2025
James had a rough game against the Pistons, scoring 17 points on 6-17 shooting from the field. He had more turnovers than assists and finished the game with a -16 plus/minus rating. James was called out by some analysts for his body language on Christmas, as he finished the game with a -33 plus/minus rating, and he’s had negative plus/minus ratings in four of his last five games.
It was a rough birthday for the now 41-year-old James. From one aspect, Teague is correct, as James is averaging 20.5 points per game this season, which is his lowest scoring season since his rookie year. However, Teague’s take is questionable when considering James’s efficiency, as he is currently shooting 50.7% from the field, which is higher than a few of his peak seasons.
James is still a quality, borderline All-Star-level player, just as Michael Jordan was during his final year with the Washington Wizards. However, as Teague mentioned, Jordan averaged 20 points per game in his final season, which was the lowest total of his career. Looking at these, one might feel that James is diminishing, just as Jordan was during his last season.
James’s struggles against the Pistons and Rockets, two exciting young teams with strong defensive identities, may be a sign that he’s no longer able to be the best player on a championship team. That’s why it’s probably more concerning to Lakers fans that MVP candidate Luka Dončić also struggled on both ends against the Pistons and Rockets.
James’s future will continue to be one of the top headlines during the NBA season, especially if the Lakers continue struggling against the league’s best teams.
