Although Los Angeles Lakers’ star LeBron James still had an excellent season despite starting the year with a back injury, putting up 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 51.5% from the field, he’s not the same player he once was.
Of course, James is still blowing every other 41-year-old in history out of the water. However, with his advanced age, there has been speculation that this will be his final season with the Lakers; some even believe it could be his final season, period.
The NBA World Reacts to LeBron James Not Wanting a Retirement Tour
When James retires, it will be quite a spectacle. James is one of the greatest athletes of all time and is considered by most to be one of the two best basketball players.
Despite these expectations, when James finally decides to retire, he reportedly doesn’t want all of that fanfare.
Per Dan Woike and Sam Amick of The Athletic, via Bleacher Report, James does not want a retirement tour even though it is a “real possibility” that he will retire at the end of the season.
Prize Picks responded, “LeCap is back at it again,” which led a few to take offense.
Daniel Reid told Prize Picks what he thought, saying “Maintain your credibility. Delete this.”
Maintain your credibility. Delete this
— Daniel Reid (@danielp_reid) April 17, 2026
Hardwood Junkies commented on Mariah Carey’s appearance at Michael Jordan’s retirement event.
Meanwhile this is what Jordan had the NBA do for his retirement 😂 pic.twitter.com/1ZgFyrxcXS
— Hardwood Junkies (@hardwoodjunkies) April 17, 2026
Amid these debates, HoodiiBron pointed out that James may end up with a retirement tour regardless of his preferences.
“Even if he doesn’t want it, he still gonna get it because he’s LeBron he deserves it man,” he posted on X.
Even if he doesn’t want it, he still gonna get it because he’s LeBron he deserves it man https://t.co/seOYLa8F6E
— ✧.* (@HoodiiBron) April 17, 2026
Furthering the conversation, Coach Rome suggested the league would be unhappy if James didn’t have a grand sendoff.
“Dude i feel like the league would be livid if lebron simply walked away from the game without being celebrated,” he wrote. “He been the face and an ambassador his whole career. It would bring in so much revenue as well to do a farewell tour. No way he just calls it quits and dats it.”
dude i feel like the league would be livid if lebron simply walked away from the game without being celebrated
he been the face and an ambassador his whole career
it would bring in so much revenue as well to do a farewell tour
no way he just calls it quits and dats it https://t.co/rxWNz44Zza
— Coach Rome (@Rome_Beast) April 17, 2026
Echoing this sentiment, Quis pledged to make sure James receives a retirement tour.
“imma make sure Lebron gets a retirement tour,” Quis said.
On the other hand, AndyKHLiu expressed skepticism.
“Why lie like this?” he asked.
Why lie like this? https://t.co/sN3ZcipVaX
— 🫵👍 (@AndyKHLiu) April 17, 2026
Meanwhile, HanaHoops joined others in asserting that James must be celebrated in his final season.
“The greatest basketball player in history not having a retirement tour just doesn’t feel right,” they wrote.
Although most don’t seem to buy that this will be James’s last season, if it is, you can catch the start of what would be his last playoff run when the Lakers host the Houston Rockets on ABC Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.
