Kristian Ferrell
As of June 2025, LeBron James has not announced any plans to retire from basketball. Following the Los Angeles Lakers' loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which knocked them out of the playoffs, James stated that he would need to discuss his future with his family and support group. The 40-year-old NBA star, who has had a highly successful career, including being a four-time MVP and the NBA's all-time scoring leader, hinted that he might consider retirement when he no longer feels motivated to train and study the game. While James has a year left on his contract with the Lakers, there is speculation that he might finish his career with another franchise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Decision on retirement | LeBron James has not decided on his retirement yet. |
| Factors influencing the decision | James plans to consult his family, wife, and support group. |
| Current contract status | James has a year left on his two-year, $101 million deal with the Lakers, with a player option. |
| Age | James is 40 years old and will be 41 by the end of the next season. |
| Career accomplishments | James is a four-time MVP, the NBA's all-time scoring leader, and has led three different franchises to NBA titles. He has accomplished most of his career goals, including playing with his son, Bronny. |
| Recent performance | James averaged 40.8 minutes per game against the Minnesota Timberwolves but looked fatigued by the fourth quarter. The Lakers lost the series 103-96, and their performance has declined in recent years. |
| Future possibilities | James may consider leaving the Lakers before retirement to pursue a fifth ring with another franchise. |
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What You'll Learn
LeBron James's future plans are undecided
When asked about his future plans, James responded, "I don't know. I don't have the answer to that," indicating that he will reflect on his next steps with his family and support group. At 40 years old, James is at the tail end of his career, having just completed his seventh season with the Lakers and his 22nd year in the NBA.
James has a year left on his two-year, $101 million deal with the Lakers, with a player option, giving him significant leverage in deciding his next move. While it is unclear if he will retire or continue playing, James has expressed that he will consider his physical and mental state in making his decision.
James has accomplished numerous milestones in his career, including being a four-time MVP, leading three different franchises to NBA titles, and becoming the NBA's all-time scoring leader. He also achieved a personal goal of teaming up with his son, Bronny, during his latest season with the Lakers.
With the Lakers facing roster adjustments and the need for defensive improvements, James's future with the team is uncertain. While he has not ruled out the possibility of finishing his career elsewhere, James's next steps remain a topic of speculation, with his decision highly anticipated by fans and the basketball world alike.
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James's recent performance against the Timberwolves
As of June 2025, there is no news of LeBron James retiring from basketball. However, James has hinted that he is at the tail end of his career and will need to decide how much longer he wants to continue playing.
Now, moving on to James's recent performance against the Timberwolves; on Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves with a score of 103-96, which knocked them out of the playoffs. James averaged 26.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game in the first four games of the series against the Timberwolves. In Game 4, he played 46 minutes, including the entire second half, and finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Despite James's efforts, the Lakers lost both Games 3 and 4 in Minneapolis, with the Game 4 final score being 116-113.
James, a four-time MVP, has had a illustrious career spanning 22 seasons in the NBA. He has led three different franchises to NBA titles and is the NBA's all-time leading scorer. At 40 years old, he is considering his future in the game, but no official decision has been made.
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James's current contract with the Lakers
As of July 2024, LeBron James is under a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, which will keep him with the team until he is 41 if he plays out the full length of the contract. The contract is worth $101.35 million and includes a no-trade clause. James is expected to make around $50 million in 2024-25, pushing his career on-court earnings to around $530 million, making him the first player in NBA history to surpass the $500 million mark.
James has a player option for the 2025-26 season, and he holds just about all of the power when it comes to what's next for him. In the 2025-26 season, James will earn a base salary of $52,627,153, while carrying a cap hit and a dead cap value of the same amount.
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James's son, Bronny, and their father-son NBA partnership
As of June 2025, LeBron James has not announced any plans to retire from basketball. In an interview on the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN, James said that his decision to retire would depend on his mindset:
> For me, it's about my mind. I'm all about the process. If it gets to the point where I don't feel like showing up to the arena five hours in advance. Or I don't feel like training. Or I don't feel like studying the scout sheet of guys. If it gets to that point, I'll know, 'You know what, Bron, that's a wrap.' I will be able to tell."
James has a year left on his two-year, $101 million deal with the Lakers, though he has a player option. Following the Los Angeles Lakers' loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which knocked them out of the playoffs, James said, "I don't know. I don't have the answer to that. It's something I'll sit down with my family, my wife, and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens."
James has already accomplished everything possible in his career, including leading three different franchises to NBA titles throughout his career. He is the NBA's all-time scoring leader and a four-time MVP. He also got to team up with his eldest son, Bronny, this season on the Lakers, which he had long said he wanted to do before he retired.
LeBron Raymone "Bronny" James Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is the eldest child and teammate of LeBron James Sr., making them the first active father-son duo in NBA history. Bronny was born in 2004 in Akron, Ohio, to LeBron James, then aged 19, and his girlfriend Savannah Brinson, aged 18. Bronny played several sports as a child, including basketball and soccer, but his father did not allow him to play football or ice hockey due to safety concerns.
Bronny was a consensus four-star recruit and was named a McDonald's All-American as a senior in high school in 2023. He played one season of college basketball for the USC Trojans before being selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft. On October 22, 2024, in the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bronny and his father became the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA. Bronny debuted with a rebound in three minutes of play in the Lakers' 110–103 win over the Timberwolves. On October 30, he scored his first NBA basket—alongside two assists and a steal—in a 134–110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Throughout his rookie season, Bronny has been assigned several times to the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. On December 12, 2024, he scored a game-high 30 points in South Bay's loss to the Valley Suns. On January 24, 2025, he scored a then career-high 31 points in a 122–110 win over the Rip City Remix. On January 31, 2025, returning from the G League in a win over the Washington Wizards, Bronny put up five points, two rebounds, and two assists, playing the entire fourth quarter. On March 20, 2025, Bronny co-led the Lakers with 17 points in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. On March 24, 2025, he scored a career and game-high 39 points with seven rebounds, four assists, a team-high four steals, and one block in South Bay's 122–118 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors. In the Lakers' regular-season finale on April 13, 2025, Bronny made his first career start and finished with four points in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Analysts have described shooting and defense as Bronny's main strengths, although he lacks the size of most NBA players with his skill set. Bronny excels in catch-and-shoot situations and can also shoot off movement.
Bronny has a large social media following, with over seven million followers on Instagram by the end of high school. Analysts have projected him as having one of the highest-earning potentials from his name, image, and likeness (NIL) among college athletes. In February 2022, he filed for trademarks on variations of his name: Bronny, BJ Jr. Bronny's godfather is NBA All-Star Chris Paul, who is a close friend of his father.
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James's podcast, Mind the Game
On the latest episode of "Mind the Game", LeBron James opens up about his future in the NBA and whether retirement is on the cards.
"I don't know," James shared candidly when asked about his plans following the Lakers' recent loss to the Timberwolves. "I don't have the answer to that. It's something I need to think about and discuss with my family and my support group. I need to have conversations with myself on how much longer I want to keep playing. To be honest, I just don't know the answer right now."
James, a four-time MVP, has had an illustrious career spanning 22 years in the NBA, with this season marking his seventh with the Lakers. At 40 years old, with another year left on his contract, he acknowledges he is at the tail end of his career. "I've accomplished everything possible in my career, I've led three different franchises to NBA titles, I'm the NBA's all-time scoring leader, and I got to team up with my son, Bronny, this season, which was a dream come true."
When asked if he was considering finishing his career with another franchise, James remained non-committal. "I don't know what the future holds," he said. "I still love the game, but I'm at a point where I need to listen to my body and my mind. If I don't feel like showing up to the arena early, or training, or studying scout sheets, then I'll know it's time to walk away."
James concluded by thanking his fans for their ongoing support and stating that he would take the time to make a thoughtful decision about his future, ensuring he makes the right choice for himself and the Lakers organization.
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Frequently asked questions
As of June 2025, LeBron James has not announced any plans to retire from basketball.
Following the Los Angeles Lakers' loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in May 2025, James said he didn't know what the future holds for him. He said he would discuss his future with his family and support group.
James has said that his mindset will be a key factor in his decision to retire. He stated that if he no longer feels like showing up early to the arena, training, or studying the game, then he will know it's time to retire.
As of May 2025, James had one year left on his two-year, $101 million deal with the Lakers. He has a player option for the second year.
LeBron James has had a highly successful career, becoming the NBA's all-time scoring leader and leading three different franchises to NBA titles. He has also achieved individual accolades, such as being a 21-time All-Star and a six-time All-Defensive Teamer.
