@@National Basketball Association

[Pincus] “LeBron will suit up next year,” one Western Conference executive said. “He just changed the conversation. Now we’re not talking about a sweep; we’re talking about LeBron and retirement. He loves to control the narrative.”

  • May 24, 2023


> Few around the league expect LeBron to shut it down with two years left on his contract at roughly $97.6 million, but James has the means to walk away from the game if so motivated.

> Other NBA sources suggested James was getting an early start on his leverage campaign on the Lakers’ front office, attempting to influence GM Rob Pelinka to chase free agent Kyrie Irving, who is still expected by many to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks.

> Was it Machiavellian design, a man caught up in the moment’s emotion or an earnest possibility that James might retire?

> “Give it a week,” another executive said. “Let’s see if he’s saying the same thing.”

[Source](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10077103-what-are-los-angeles-lakers-options-if-lebron-james-really-does-retire)

27 comments

  3. Spends 99% of the interview talking about how great Jokic and the Nuggets are, answers 1 question about his future right after a devastating loss

    “Why would Lebron take control of the narrative like this”

  5. NBA discourse is more focused on the “narrative” than the actual games being played. Why the NFL will always be king in this country.

  6. LeFraud EMBARASSINGLY showed up to media after getting swept and answered all questions in full sentences. Shame on you LeElliotCarver!

  8. I think it’s generally true that he likes to be the center of attention, but he was also more than complimentary toward the Nuggets in that interview. Didn’t seem like he was trying to diminish them.

  9. It is crazy for a 38 years man to consider retirement after playing 48 minutes while injured?

  11. Lebron says he will think about his future. And all these people going ape shit

  12. The man has played more NBA basketball than anyone. He’s spent the last few seasons consistently hurt. And he ended this season getting swept. Why is it so ridiculous to think he’s actually going to think about retiring?

  14. LeBron spent half the interview giving nothing but praise to Jokic and the Nuggets. It’s not his fault sports media sucks ass and decided to only talk about him

  15. *Player in year 20 discusses retirement after brutal season exit

    “Hey let’s shit on him”

  16. Guy is fucking 38 and has injuries he’ll be dealing with for a while now. It’ so weird how much we take for granted that dude could just want to go home.

  17. it gets even weirder when you realize that the media is just CHOOSING to talk about the retirement instead

  18. I feel like this is such a dramatic take on the situation.

    Dudes damn near 39 of course he will contemplate retirement at this age and chances are I’d say we all feel like he will be back.

    But the reason no one is really giving him shit about this sweep is that the Lakers, including himself played well above expectation this playoff. They just ran into a better team, but losing 4 close games to a great team shouldnt even create a negative narrative on the Lakers or LeBron, just a very positive one for the Nuggets. No one choked in this series imo and the better team won.

  19. He should have just skipped talking to the media. Oh wait, that would have caused more attention. It’s almost like the media understands their job and focuses on topics and narratives that induce more clicks.

  20. Man used most of his time at the podium to praise Jokic and to praise the nuggets but the media being the clickbaity attention seeking people that they are only emphasized the retirement quote. And we being the drama loving public that we are, obviously latched on to it and are now discussing this retirement thing ad nauseam.

  21. I watched that entire presser and this is one of the most egregious media fabrications I’ve seen.
    He talked a lot about the roster and a bunch of other things and happened to say I’ve got a lot to think about. No fucking way that means retirement. He’s only thinking about where to maximize his championship potential, whether with the Lakers or elsewhere.

  22. LeBron gets asked questions. He answers them. The media ALWAYS controls the narrative. Always.

  24. Lebron doesn’t control the media. They media does. How can you control the media. If the media doesn’t want to acknowledge the nuggets great win over the lakers then that’s on them not Lebron.

  25. LeBron legitimately makes people lose their minds. It’s pretty fuckin hilarious.

  26. How is this Lebron’s problem? He’s not the media. He praised the nuggets in his interview

  27. They act like lebron is the one driving the media narrative. the media can talk about denver if they want and ignore lebron. it’s their job. and the amount of shit takes about him on twitter just shows people like to talk about him, mostly his haters, and then complain about it.

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