LeBron James’ retirement thrown OUT OF QUESTION, NBA analysts claim The King is undergoing ‘self-reflection’
NBA experts dismiss LeBron’s retirement hint after Lakers’ exit
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers (Via Getty Images)
LeBron James is facing an uncertain future after his Lakers season came to an abrupt end. The Nuggets completed a stunning sweep of the Lakers in the Western Conference finals on Monday, sending James home without a chance to get his fifth title. James was noncommittal about his plans for next season and beyond.
“I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about to be honest,” James said when asked to evaluate his season. “We’ll see what happens going forward.”
James’ comments sparked speculation that he might consider retiring from the NBA after 20 seasons. But several NBA analysts and insiders dismissed that notion, saying that James is still driven to compete and win at the highest level.
Shams Charania of FanDuel TV reported that there is “an expectation that [LeBron’s] gonna continue playing” and that he has two more years on his Lakers contract. He added that it would be “a true surprise” if James decided to retire.
Shannon Sharpe, a former NFL player and a co-host of UNDISPUTED on Fox Sports 1, also doubted that James would retire. He said that James has another goal in mind: playing in the NBA with his son Bronny James, who is set to be a freshman at USC and a potential one-and-done prospect. Sharpe said that James is “so close to getting to what his ultimate goal is now.”
Skip Bayless, Sharpe’s co-host and a longtime LeBron critic, also agreed that James is not going to retire. He said that James is too competitive and too proud to walk away from the game without a proper goodbye.
Monica McNutt, an ESPN analyst and a former basketball player, echoed the same sentiment. She said that James’ retirement remarks were more of an “emotional reflection” and that she finds it hard to believe that he would leave without a retirement tour.
Why LeBron James is not done yet?
LeBron James has defied all odds this season, putting up historic numbers and carrying the Lakers to the playoffs despite injuries and adversity. He broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 points to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. He also helped the Lakers overcome a rough start and knock off the Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals.
James showed no signs of slowing down at age 38, averaging 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game. He has four rings to his name, but he is still chasing the ghost of Michael Jordan and his six championships.
James also has a personal motivation to keep playing: his son Bronny James. He has said that he wants to play in the NBA with his son, who could enter the league in 2024. James said that he was not joking and that he has accomplished everything he wanted in this league.
James’ retirement talk may be just a way of expressing his frustration after a tough loss to end his season. But it is hard to imagine him walking away from the game anytime soon. The King still has more to offer to the NBA world.
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Ankush Singh
(616 Articles Published)