When the Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2025 postseason with a solid 50-32 record, the goal was clear: Make a deep playoff push. But instead, they suffered a disappointing first-round exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who dispatched them in just five games.
Since that early elimination, rumors have been swirling nonstop about LeBron James’ possible retirement, and fans aren’t ready to say goodbye. One fan in particular decided to take matters into his own hands, live and in front of the world.
Kai Cenat Doesn’t Want LeBron James to Retire
On June 21, Twitch megastar Kai Cenat went live from Fanatics Fest NYC, streaming from a special live edition of James’s talk show, “The Shop: Uninterrupted.” The event took place at “Javits Center” and featured a powerhouse lineup including Tom Brady, Victor Wembanyama, and, of course, James himself.
But it was Cenat’s raw, heartfelt moment that went viral when he turned to the four-time NBA champion and dropped a desperate three-word request.
“You can’t retire, you can’t retire, gang, I can’t imagine,” said Cenat during the livestream.
Kai Cenat told LeBron James he can’t retire while at Fanatics Fest 😠pic.twitter.com/MSLNnUjDzA
— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) June 21, 2025
This moment wasn’t just about fandom. It was a real-time cry from one generation’s icon to another. Cenat known for his high-energy content, unfiltered humor, and as someone has built a massive online empire.
With over 18 million followers on Twitch and more than 13 million subscribers on his “Kai Cenat Live” YouTube channel, he became a household name primarily through his hilarious GTA Online streams.
This isn’t the first time Cenat has brushed shoulders with NBA stars this year. Earlier this year during the 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, he was one of the standout names. Representing Team Bonds, Cenat helped lead the squad to a 66-55 win over Team Rice.
Now coming back to “The Shop.” The show originally debuted on HBO in 2018 and was created by Paul Rivera and is produced by James’ media company “The SpringHill Company” and has become a platform where athletes and celebrities have real, unfiltered conversations.
James, 40, defied expectations this season. He averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game. Back in May during an episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast, James opened up about his offseason plans emphasizing that his main focus is on health and family.
But fans like Cenat aren’t ready for James to walk away just yet. His request may have started as a viral moment, but it speaks for millions who still want to witness greatness on the court.
