NBA exec thinks LeBron will retire after next season if Lakers win title

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason for the first time since 2018. The four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP will be 41 years old next offseason and some people believe James could retire from the NBA after the 2025-26 season.

However, one NBA executive told Lakers Daily that he thinks James will only retire after next season if the Lakers win the championship.

“I think LeBron plays one or two more seasons unless the Lakers win it all next year,” the NBA executive said. “Bryce [James] will be eligible for the 2026 draft. There are some whispers that LeBron wants to play with him too.

“We’ll see what happens, but I just can’t see LeBron retiring after next season. He’s still too good of a player to just walk away. Unless there’s a huge drop-off in his production or the Lakers win the championship, I think LeBron is playing in 2026-27.”

James has been in the NBA since 2003. He’s the oldest active player in the league. The future Hall of Famer has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers (twice), Miami Heat and Lakers.

The leading scorer in NBA history, James joined the Lakers in 2018. He guided the franchise to the 2020 championship against the Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble with the help of Anthony Davis.

LAL also made the Western Conference Finals in 2023, losing to the Denver Nuggets in four games.

James appeared in 70 games for the Lakers last season. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks and made the All-NBA Second Team and finished sixth in MVP voting. James remains an elite offensive force despite being the oldest active player in the NBA.

For the first time in his legendary career, James is not the most important player on his team. The Lakers acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks last season and signed the five-time All-Star to a three-year extension in August.

Doncic is the franchise player in Los Angeles now, and he used his power this offseason by recruiting Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to the Purple and Gold.

If James doesn’t retire after next season, the Cavaliers, Mavericks and Golden State Warriors are expected to pursue him in free agency, sources told Lakers Daily. The Lakers would like James to retire from the NBA with them, sources said, but they are not going to bend over backwards to bring the NBA legend back next offseason if he chooses to continue to play.