Chris Paul confirmed over the weekend that the 2025-26 season will be his final year in the NBA, but his longtime friend LeBron James hasn’t made that same determination. Sources close to the Los Angeles Lakers star insist to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that James remains undecided on whether or not he’ll continue his career beyond this season.
Can LeBron James’ playing time provide a hint?
McMenamin’s report comes within a larger story about James’ incredible streak of 21 consecutive All-NBA nods. If LeBron hopes to extend that record-setting streak to 22 seasons, he would have to appear in 63 of the Lakers’ remaining 66 games.
As McMenamin points out, if James knew this was his final season, he may feel obligated not to take any games off — especially on the road — as long as he’s healthy. But if he thinks he’ll be back in 2026-27, a “farewell tour” wouldn’t be a consideration.
The Lakers have 11 back-to-backs between now and the end of the season, McMenamin notes, and while James has made a strong effort in recent years to suit up for both ends of those back-to-back sets, head coach J.J. Redick and the Lakers may take a more cautious approach this season, given that LeBron will turn 41 in December and has missed time with sciatica this fall.
“I don’t think an All-NBA appearance this year is going to make or break his résumé,” Redick said, adding that he hasn’t spoken to James about trying to extend that All-NBA streak.
Like Redick, agent Rich Paul said he hasn’t talked to his longtime client about the streak, but he doesn’t necessarily view an All-NBA spot in 2026 as a top priority either.
“Look, at 41 years of age, I hope he is not playing back-to-backs,” Paul told McMenamin.
As McMenamin writes, the most important thing that James could do this season for his legacy would be to win a fifth championship, and the Lakers may decide that managing his playing time over the course of the season gives them the best chance to have him healthy and at his best during the postseason.
Of course, besides reaching the 65-game mark, James would also have to continue playing at an All-NBA level to earn serious consideration for a 22nd berth. If he is playing at that level, regardless of whether or not he appears in 65 games, it would likely make him more inclined to put off retirement for another year.
James will earn about $52.6M this season in the final year of his contract with the Lakers and isn’t eligible to sign a contract extension before next July. That means if he does decide he wants to continue playing in 2026-27, he’ll have to wait until he becomes an unrestricted free agent to sign his next deal, either with Los Angeles or another team.
