ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith declared Monday that LeBron James has no immediate plans to retire, emphasizing the Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s desire for a grand send-off as a primary reason he’ll continues to compete past 2025-26.
On First Take, Smith broke down James’ current motivation as he plays deep into his 23rd NBA season.
“[LeBron] ain’t retiring. The reason why he’s not retiring is because he wants to be celebrated,” Smith said.
James, now 41, remains a key contributor for the Lakers and turned heads with his performance during All-Star Weekend. His sustained excellence serves as a model for younger stars around the league.
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Retirement discussions naturally arise for players of James’ stature at this stage, but Smith’s comments indicate the four-time MVP still has goals left and wants the NBA community to honor his career appropriately when the time arrives.
For now, he remains locked in on performing at a high level and adding chapters to one of the greatest resumes in league history.