LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are in trouble in the last few remaining games of the regular season. James’ co-stars, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, are both out due to injury and are expected to miss the remainder of the season.
It appears it’s now up to James to carry the Lakers in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. While the Lakers still have a shot with the King around, a former 10-time All-Star believes James should consider retiring after this season.
Why Paul Pierce Thinks LeBron James Should Consider Retirement
At 41, James is defying Father Time and still performing at an elite level. Despite taking a backseat this season to give way to Dončić and Reaves, James is still capable of putting up big numbers when the Lakers need him to.
However, many NBA fans are wondering when the King will call it quits. He’s currently the league’s oldest player but is still keeping up with some of the younger stars. Despite his efforts to remain great on the hardwood, it seems James’ efforts might go to waste after a prosperous season.
After carrying the Lakers all season long, MVP candidate Dončić was sidelined last Thursday due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. Reports say he’ll be out for 4 to 6 weeks, meaning he could return if the Lakers make it out of the first round of the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Reaves, who’s been an efficient second option for the Lakers, suffered a Grade 2 left oblique muscle strain. Like Dončić, he is expected to make his return in four to six weeks.
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After a disappointing turn of events, former 10-time All-Star Paul Pierce urged James to consider retiring after this season. Pierce believes the Lakers’ sudden injury woes after a fantastic season should be a sign for James to hang up the laces.
“This is demoralizing,” Pierce said. “It really is like when you come in, it’s the end of the season, you’re gearing up for a playoff run. And then you go down your two other two best players. It’s mentally draining. Like, if I’m in that locker room, I’m like, I’m looking around… It’s so draining on me mentally for him that I would really seriously contemplate retirement.”
Paul Pierce says LeBron James should really consider retirement after having a great season go down to injuries:
“This is demoralizing. It really is like when you come in it’s the end of the season, you gearing up for a playoff run. And then you go down your two other two best… pic.twitter.com/5rwDbxKNZI
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) April 6, 2026
“That’s just mentally draining,” Pierce continued. “It’s mentally draining on him, his mind, and his body now. Now he’s going to be playing his last few games, he’s going to be playing all these minutes, then he’s going to be playing heavy minutes in the playoffs. It’s just, you know what? I’ve done enough for this league, guys.”
James still hasn’t announced whether he will retire after this season. There has been much speculation about him joining the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason, which would, hypothetically, mark the start of his retirement tour.
For now, it will be interesting to see what a 41-year-old James can do in the first round of the playoffs without two of the team’s best players.
