LeBron James may not give the NBA the goodbye season many fans expected.
For years, people believed the Los Angeles Lakers star would announce one final run so every city could celebrate him before he retired. It seemed like the natural move for one of the biggest players in league history. But a new report says LeBron does not want that kind of sendoff.
According to Dan Woike and Sam Amick of The Athletic, James has not made a final decision about his future, and retirement remains possible. However, the report also says the idea of a retirement tour is not something he wants.
“Team and league sources granted anonymity to speak openly say James has made no decisions regarding his future; that retirement remains a real possibility. The notion that James would want a farewell tour — long cited as evidence that this season was not his last — is false, those sources said, with several sources even hearing that directly from James himself.”
“The hypothetical tour, like so many other things dealing with James, is something people believed he’d want. Just like they believed he’d be unable to meld his style around the Lakers’ guards or stomach the organization prioritizing its future around younger stars.”
That means LeBron could retire whenever he chooses without announcing a final season in advance. If true, fans may not get the chance to plan one last trip to see him play.
Still, James continues to perform at a high level, so there is no clear sign that retirement is coming immediately. The Lakers’ playoff run could also play a role in whatever decision comes next.
For now, LeBron has not announced anything. But if he eventually walks away, it may happen quietly and on his own timeline.
