Maybe it’s hard for some people to picture the NBA sans Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James because he’s been one of the best players in the league for so long. He’s starred at the highest level for longer than some fans of the league have been born, and he’s still going strong at the age of 40.
However, “Father Time” is ultimately undefeated, even if James has seemingly defied it so far with his longevity. One anonymous scout who works in the Western Conference is of the belief that the coming season — which will mark James’ 23rd in the league — will be the forward’s last in the NBA.
“It just feels like it’s where it’s going to end,” a Western Conference scout said.
Maybe the end of the coming season will be the most optimal time for James to step away from the league. Assuming he still is a premier player in the 2025-26 season, he can retire knowing he didn’t stick around in the league too long to the point where his quality of play majorly declined. There are plenty of Hall of Famers who looked like shells of themselves in the twilight of their pro tenures, but James certainly has not checked that box.
James also has nothing to prove as a basketball player at this juncture and has already stamped himself as an all-time great NBA player. Whether it’s his four NBA championships, four MVP awards or 21 All-NBA selections, it’s hard to imagine that an NBA player could possibly accomplish more individually and collectively in a career.
Conveniently, James’ current contract is set to expire following the 2025-26 season. By the time he hits unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2026, he will be 41 years old, and folks shouldn’t hold their breath that any of the 30 teams in the league will offer him a lucrative, long-term deal at that age.
While it’s not set in stone by any means that James will be out of the league and retired after the coming season, it’s a real possibility that perhaps not enough NBA fans are considering.
