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Report: Retirement an Option on Table for Lakers' LeBron James
The 41-year-old NBA star has made no decision, and sources say a farewell tour is not planned as the Lakers weigh a return.
On Saturday, Dan Woike and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported it is a "real possibility" LeBron James retires after the 2025-26 season, noting James has rejected the idea of a farewell tour.
The Lakers have approximately $50 million in salary cap room and plan on prioritizing roster balance; a 15-2 run in March established them as contenders, though re-signing James remains nowhere near a foregone conclusion.
Now 41, James is the league's all-time leading scorer in his 23rd season and called playing alongside his son, Bronny James, in the playoffs "the best thing that ever happened" to his career.
If James leaves The Lakers, rival executives believe a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers or a move to the Golden State Warriors are legitimate possibilities, with Woike and Amick noting The Warriors have "serious" interest.
Facing a roster without injured stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, James and The Lakers prepare for a first-round playoff series against the Rockets starting April 18, confronting Kevin Durant's squad in a rare matchup.