LeBron James Considering Retirement Following Western Conference Finals Loss

[RealGM Wiretap]

LeBron James is considering retirement after the Los Angeles Lakers were swept in the Western Conference Finals by the Denver Nuggets, sources told Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.

James has "a lot to weigh," according to the source.

"I got a lot to think about. … just personally, with me moving forward with the game of basketball, I got a lot to think about," said James in his post-game press conference.

James is expected to take his time before making a decision on whether to return for his 21st season.

James currently has two years and $97 million left on his contract, which includes a player option. 

Via Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

[TheCage4]

James cannot allow the attention to be on Jokic and the Nuggets reaching the Finals for the first time. Zero class.

[FreeBoosie]

James cannot allow the attention to be on Jokic and the Nuggets reaching the Finals for the first time. Zero class.

Thank you!! My thoughts exactly. Like dude shut up with this type of nonsense everytime u get embarrassed in the playoffs. He knew everyone except Bron sexuals/ESPN would be criticizing him for chickening out at the end of another playoff game AGAIN so he pulls this stunt lol

[t-rexCity]

James cannot allow the attention to be on Jokic and the Nuggets reaching the Finals for the first time. Zero class.

Thank you!! My thoughts exactly. Like dude shut up with this type of nonsense everytime u get embarrassed in the playoffs. He knew everyone except Bron sexuals/ESPN would be criticizing him for chickening out at the end of another playoff game AGAIN so he pulls this stunt lol

I get it. I'm not a LeBron fan either and he is big time diva that's for sure but he put up a fight in that game. He played hell of a game. Most diffinitely didn't chicken out. As much as there's LeBron fans, I can see there's as much irrational hate for him too.

[Blazers98]

The man's ego is too big to leave the NBA without a retirement tour. 100% he is not retiring this year.
This is all underhanded pressure to force the Lakers into win next year or draft his son.

[FecesOfDeath]

No way he retiring when he's still waiting to play with his son Bronny, which, at the earliest, would be around October/November 2024.

[dougthonus]

No way he retiring when he's still waiting to play with his son Bronny, which, at the earliest, would be around October/November 2024.

An alternative take is that Bronny doesn't want to play with him. LeBron hinted at that earlier this year when he said it may not be Bronny's desire and he wasn't going to go against his wishes. It may be that he knows Bronny doesn't want this now, and so that carrot isn't worth hanging onto anymore.

That said, I'd be shocked if he didn't come back next year. I think this was just processing a lot of hurt / disappointment in the moment.

[HiRez]

Lol so now we have to endure yet another televised “Decision” event, followed next year by the inevitable “Return” when he un-retires.

[Wildcat]

This is sad as F because it's so incredibly transparent what he's doing. Very disappointed he's trying to dominate the sports waves.

[Knick4Real]

No he's not

[MegaK]

Yo he done bro!??

[Pickled Prunes]

No way he retiring when he's still waiting to play with his son Bronny, which, at the earliest, would be around October/November 2024.

An alternative take is that Bronny doesn't want to play with him. LeBron hinted at that earlier this year when he said it may not be Bronny's desire and he wasn't going to go against his wishes. It may be that he knows Bronny doesn't want this now, and so that carrot isn't worth hanging onto anymore.

That said, I'd be shocked if he didn't come back next year. I think this was just processing a lot of hurt / disappointment in the moment.

I've actually thought this all along. Bronny will want to make a name for himself... he's already had to live as "Bronny" his whole life.

And Lebron shouldn't feel hurt. They overachieved. A healthy MEM team should have knocked them out in the first round. It's just a weird year.

[Pickled Prunes]

And dag nabit... would somebody fix the frickin' boards already!!!

[beefman]

he wants to play with his son, he's not retiring. He's talking more about if he want to come back to the lakers next year

[dougthonus]

And Lebron shouldn't feel hurt. They overachieved. A healthy MEM team should have knocked them out in the first round. It's just a weird year.

The closest thing I can experience to this is I had a job interview once for a 500k+ a year job. I did 13 hours of interviewing across 7-8 different people on 3 different days and finished 2nd in the process where they hired a friend of the CEO instead of me. I probably overachieved to get that far, but it didn't make me feel any better.

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[dice]

The man's ego is too big to leave the NBA without a retirement tour. 100% he is not retiring this year.
This is all underhanded pressure to force the Lakers into win next year or draft his son.

MJ's ego is bigger and he didn't have a retirement tour...not exactly

6% chance that lebron never plays again

[Pickled Prunes]

And Lebron shouldn't feel hurt. They overachieved. A healthy MEM team should have knocked them out in the first round. It's just a weird year.

The closest thing I can experience to this is I had a job interview once for a 500k+ a year job. I did 13 hours of interviewing across 7-8 different people on 3 different days and finished 2nd in the process where they hired a friend of the CEO instead of me. I probably overachieved to get that far, but it didn't make me feel any better.

Sure, but he didn't quit the last 15 times he lost the last game of the season and you didn't quit going on job interviews.

[dougthonus]

Sure, but he didn't quit the last 15 times he lost the last game of the season and you didn't quit going on job interviews.

Sure, I didn't say he would quit. I said I would be shocked if he quit, but was just really disappointed in the moment and that caused him to say these things out of the emotion of the moment. You stated that he shouldn't feel disappointed because he overachieved, I just said that isn't how it works. I'm sure he's crushed and probably thought he would win. You and I feel he overachieved, I just don't think LeBron feels that way.

[shadrock]

No hes not.