LeBron James Ain't Retiring Without A Farewell Tour

Image via Getty/AAron Ontiveroz

Zion: Not a chance. LeBron Raymone James is not retiring without a farewell tour. Athletes like him need to be appreciated because of their impact not only within the game of basketball but their impact globally. And you know LeBron isn't going out without getting his flowers. MJ had somewhat of a farewell tour. Kobe had his. D-Wade had his. There’s no way LeBron isn’t getting that farewell tour. While his play has slightly to declined, he’s still arguably a top seven player in the league and if not for his nagging injuries, he may have still shown us that all postseason. The only red flag that could hint a retirement has been his inability to stay healthy after being Iron Man for much of his career. 

Kam: No, I don’t believe so. But I do think that for the first time in his career, LeBron is actually looking at his basketball mortality and recognizing the end is likely near. He has spent over half of his life in the NBA, which is amazing to think about. He will be turning 39-years-old in December of next year, the physical toll of playing in the NBA is catching up with him, evidenced by the fact he has not played 70 games once in a Lakers uniform. Another offseason of preparation combined with a six month regular season in hopes of a deep playoff run leading to a title is probably mentally exhausting for him. His legacy is cemented, he is one of the two greatest players to ever play. He isn’t retiring now, but I do believe that he is truly preparing for it in the near future.

Kam: While I do believe that LeBron is mulling his basketball future seriously, if we know one thing about him, it’s that he is always looking for leverage. This could be a play for leverage to get the Lakers to make upgrades this offseason. It’s no coincidence that Trae Young, represented by Klutch Sports, has been present at multiple Lakers home playoff games this spring. Same for free agent guard Kyrie Irving. The Lakers turned their season around at the trade deadline by flipping Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley into D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt and Mo Bamba. But none of those players made an impact for the Lakers against the Nuggets. This roster as constructed is good enough to win a lot of regular season games, and maybe even round or two in the playoffs. But if they are going to get back to the Finals, there will need to be upgrades. This could be LeBron’s way of forcing Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss’ hand one more time.

Zion: I wouldn’t be surprised if it was, LeBron is very strategic in how he approaches situations. Every public move he does has a motive behind it and the Lakers are still some steps from becoming an NBA Finals team. As we explained in our recent piece, best bet may be through a sign-and-trade involving D’Angelo Russell but Lakers don’t have much wiggle room to make a move. Because of the latter point, I don’t think it’s LeBron putting pressure on the Lakers because there’s not much they can do and realistically, LeBron wouldn’t need to pull this stunt to get the player he wants on the Lakers. 

Zion: I never thought LeBron would actually have an opportunity to play with Bronny. The stars have to align for this dream to become a reality. I think it’s more realistic to see LeBron and Bronny on the court together as opponents rather than teammates. Yes, LeBron can sign with whatever team that drafts but Bronny has been catching steam as a lottery prospect. Is every team in the lottery taking a 40-year old LeBron for a year if they’re trying to grow a young core? Sure, franchises that can use the ticket sales would go for it but I’m not sure every team would. If they want to play together on a big stage, it may have to come through the Olympics and even then, that’s not something USA Basketball may go for in an event with such high stakes. 

Kam: It’s the only real reason he has to keep playing at this point. If you believe LeBron is the GOAT, nothing he does from here on out will change that. If you still have Michael Jordan at the GOAT, a fifth title in Year 21 isn’t moving you off your perch. So the only thing left is for LeBron to suit up with his son in the same season he calls it a career. LeBron’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2024-2025 season. That presumably could be Bronny’s rookie season if he is a one-and-done at USC this coming season. The stars are aligning for the James Gang to take the NBA floor together. It’s the last thing for LeBron to check off his NBA bucket list.

Zion: Absolutely. What are you playing for in the West with AD and Austin Reaves as your 1 and 2. While they could reload and get another player in free agency, this class doesn’t have any players that would keep them in the conversation for an NBA title. AD turned 30 this year and while he’s in his prime, his health issues will tell that he may not be the worth the risk of keeping as a pillar of the team with no LeBron on the roster. You have some fairly young pieces in Reaves and Rui so you trade AD for picks and possibly even a high pick in this draft and start the rebuild. Build up and wait until Jayson Tatum becomes a free agent or asks out.

Kam: It’s a tough question. If LeBron were to retire this offseason by chance, the Lakers could still field a team of AD, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Russell, Vanderbilt, Beasley, Bamba and their no. 17 draft pick along with other moves. That is a playoff team, but certainly not a contender by any means. Trading AD allows for the team to accelerate its rebuilding process, while also retaining young pieces such as Reaves and Hachimura. AD isn’t going to be the best player on a title team at this point in his career. Especially without a bonafide co-star next to him. But he is still guaranteed 25 points and 10 to 12 rebounds a night if he is healthy, and he is only 30-years-old. Exploring all options shouldn’t be off the table, but moving on from AD would be tough.

Kam: It can’t be classified as anything besides a success. An undeniable success. Injuries have plagued his run with the Lakers, being the main culprit for the missed postseasons in 2019 and 2022. But in five years with the franchise, LeBron has made the All-Star Game and All-NBA team each season, has gotten the Lakers to the playoffs three times, won an NBA Finals, and appeared in another Western Conference Finals. The only teams in the NBA to make at least two conference finals appearances since 2018-2019 season are the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, Nuggets, Heat and Celtics. All six of those teams have played in the Finals at least once. Only the Lakers, Warriors and Bucks have won a title out of that group, though the Nuggets or Heat will likely be added to the list once this postseason ends. The bottom line is the Lakers have been as relevant as any franchise during the LeBron James tenure, have won a title and have performed in the postseason like that of an elite team when they have gotten there. In the five years before LeBron showed up, the franchise missed the playoffs every year. In five years with James, they have seen the mountaintop and secured another conference finals appearance.

Zion: It’s a success. Bubble or not, when we look back in 20 years & count the Lakers’ titles, he’ll be responsible for bringing one of those home and that’s why he the Lakers wanted him in LA. Anything more that he gives is a luxury but he completed his objective as a Laker. Even this season was a success because of the Lakers’ turnaround. People may forget of where the Lakers were before they had LeBron. They had a bunch of young talent that really weren’t developing to the point of producing wins. Although they’re a historic franchise, the Lakers had six straight seasons of losing and meme-able moments. The competition took them as a joke. LeBron’s arrival changed the tone of the franchise and eventually brought them back to glory.