LeBron James will turn 41 this December and the reality is impossible to ignore: this could be his last ride. His contract with the Lakers ends after the season, and it’ll mark his 23rd year in the league — the longest career in NBA history, surpassing Vince Carter. At this point, the résumé speaks for itself: four championships, four Finals MVPs, four regular-season MVPs, more All-Star and All-NBA appearances than anyone, and the all-time scoring crown. He doesn’t need to prove a thing, but LeBron’s never been wired to coast.
The retirement speculation has come into focus over the last week or so since the 2025-26 schedule was released because of a video which has been circulating of LeBron joking at a dinner that Savannah “wants me to f—ing retire in the next year or so.” His agent, Rich Paul, quickly shut it down, saying LeBron still wants a real shot at a title but with retirement rumors swirling every season could be his last. And LeBron himself reminded everyone he still holds himself to the same standard: if he’s not in the Finals or winning titles, it’s a disappointment. The man’s fire hasn’t gone out — but the clock is ticking.
Of course, there’s drama off the court too. The Lakers are in the middle of an ownership shift, with Jeanie Buss selling to Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter. Officially, Buss will stay in charge for a while, but reports have trickled out that Walter isn’t shy about influencing direction. Some whispers have even suggested he told the front office to explore trading LeBron this summer. Nothing came of it, and insiders insist the Lakers want him around for this final contract year, but the fact those rumors even had legs tells you how fragile this situation feels. For the first time since he arrived in L.A., it’s clear the organization is preparing for life after LeBron.
On the floor, the Lakers are in transition. The blockbuster move last season brought Luka Dončić to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis. Luka signed a long-term extension, locking him in as the franchise’s future centerpiece. Around him, the Lakers picked up Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia for frontcourt depth, plus veteran Marcus Smart to stabilize the backcourt. The roster isn’t flawless, but the idea is clear: Luka carries the offensive load while LeBron, in year 23, can pick his spots. Head coach JJ Redick wants to run a faster-paced system, and pairing Luka’s offensive genius with LeBron’s all-around game is, at the very least, fascinating.
The wild card is Bronny James. Drafted in 2024, Bronny played sparingly as a rookie — just 27 games — and his development is very much a work in progress. Redick has been clear: Bronny’s got to get into elite shape before he can really make an impact. Nobody inside the Lakers is pretending he’s ready for a big role yet. Still, the storyline of father and son sharing a court is irresistible, and every time they check into a game together, Staples Center buzzes in a way no other franchise can replicate.
So what’s at stake? Legacy, plain and simple. LeBron already holds every major statistical record that matters: scoring, playoff points, minutes played. He’s chasing a fifth ring, which would tie him with Magic Johnson and bring him within one of Kobe Bryant. For a guy who’s always compared himself to the all-time greats, that would mean something. He’s said countless times that the goal hasn’t changed — he wants another shot at the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The problem is, the Western Conference is loaded, and the Lakers don’t look like a sure contender on paper. If they want to give LeBron one last chance at glory, a deadline move might be necessary.
Here’s the thing, folks: For die-hard fans, this season is appointment viewing. Every dunk, every postgame press conference, every father-son moment with Bronny is going to be scrutinized. If this really is the end, the farewell tour will be unlike anything the NBA has ever seen — bigger than Kobe, different than MJ, and with an aura only LeBron can bring. But there’s still the chance he decides to push it another year, maybe even with another team, depending on how the season shakes out.
With that… Nobody knows for sure how this story will end, not even LeBron. But one way or another, the 2025–26 season feels like the final chapter of an epic basketball career. And if it is the last ride, LeBron won’t go quietly. He’ll try to go out with a ring — and if he pulls that off, it’ll be the perfect exclamation point on the greatest career the game has ever seen.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!