LeBron James Considers Retirement After WCF Exit, 20 NBA Seasons: LeBron James, a great player for the Los Angeles Lakers, is reportedly considering retiring before the start of the 2023-24 NBA season, according to sources cited by Bleacher Report and TNT.
Sources indicate LeBron has a lot to consider. James will likely take his time selecting whether or not to return for Year 21. He has $97 million left on his deal over the next two years, but the last year is a player option.
The Lakers’ 3-0 sweep against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night sets the stage for this seismic development.
LeBron James Considers Retirement After WCF Exit, 20 NBA Seasons
“I got a lot to think about,” James said after the game. There is a lot for me to consider as I move forward in my basketball career.
If this is it for LeBron after 20 years, he will leave as the all-time leader in postseason scoring, with a 2,036-point lead over second-place Michael Jordan, and as the all-time leader in scoring, having passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar this season.
LeBron’s oldest son Bronny is expected to enter the NBA Draft in 2024, and the two have been discussing his ambitions to play in the league all season.
James maintained his status as one of the league’s top players, as evidenced by his selection to the All-NBA Third Team. The Lakers, who started the year 2-10, made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals because to the 38-year-old, 19-time All-Star’s averages of 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game.
Spotrac estimates that Los Angeles will have $29.6 million in cap space heading into the 2023 offseason.
Only James, Davis, Vanderbilt, Beasley, and Mo Bamba are officially signed through the 2023-24 season, so L.A. doesn’t have a lot of long-term money on the books.
About LeBron James
LeBron James is one of the most iconic figures in basketball today. Known for his on-court prowess and off-court philanthropy, he has been a global sports superstar for more than a decade. He began his career in 2003 when he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the number one overall pick. Since then, he has gone on to win three NBA championships, become an 14-time All-Star, and win four MVPs. He is also one of only three players in NBA history to have achieved at least 30k points, 8k rebounds, 8k assists and 1k blocks, along with Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Karl Malone.
Off the court, LeBron is heavily involved in charitable work. In 2004 he created the LeBron James Family Foundation (LJFF), which provides educational resources and support for children and their families in Akron Ohio, where LeBron grew up. He has donated millions of dollars to organizations devoted to empowering young people through education and mentorship programs focusing on health, wellness, education and recreation. In addition to giving back financially to his community through his foundation work, LeBron also uses his celebrity status to bring attention to important social issues such as racial injustice and gun violence prevention.
As an athlete, LeBron is known for his impressive physical gifts as well as his ability to lead a team both on and off the court. His drive for excellence has led him to become one of the most accomplished players of all time – setting records for most points scored in a single quarter (24), most consecutive games with at least 10 points (873), and most regular season MVP awards (four). He’s also been recognized worldwide for his talent: winning multiple ESPY awards, being named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine in 2012, appearing on Time Magazine’s list of The 100 Most Influential People three times since 2013 – including topping the list in 2018–and becoming just the third male international athlete featured on a Wheaties cereal box cover.
One thing that sets him apart from other athletes is his commitment not only to himself but also those around him. On top of consistently performing at a high level despite various injuries throughout his career—including carrying teams with subpar rosters—he’s continuously found ways to share success with others both through charity work or simply by making sure teammates receive proper recognition after big wins or series victories.
It’s no surprise then that so many look up to him both as an athlete and role model; someone who constantly strives for greatness without letting any obstacle stand in their way from achieving their goals—on or off the court—while also giving back whenever possible . Throughout it all—the championships won, honors earned and lessons shared—LeBron James continues to prove why he’s not only one of basketball’s greatest players ever but an inspiration too.