Lakers' LeBron James: '50-50' on If I Want a Farewell Tour in My Final NBA Season

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James revealed on Sunday that he hasn't decided his method of retirement just yet.

James told Showtime's Rachel Nichols that he's "50-50" on deciding between announcing his choice to retire before his final year and going on a farewell tour or simply deciding to step away from the game at the end of a season similar to San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan.

The NBA's all-time leading scorer added that he isn't sure how many seasons he has left in the association.

The 39-year-old is still performing at an elite level, as he'll be appearing in the NBA All-Star game on Sunday night. James was selected to his 20th career All-Star roster in 2024, the most among any player in the league's history.

In 49 starts throughout his 2023-24 campaign, he's averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game while shooting 52.0 percent from the field and an impressive 39.5 percent from behind the arc.

Although he hasn't made any decision regarding the specific season that he'll step away from the sport, it appears that James is pondering his method of retirement. He could go on a farewell tour, similar to the one that the late Kobe Bryant went on.

The Lakers icon announced his decision to retire in a poem on The Players' Tribune prior to the 2015-16 season, receiving praise and gifts at several opposing arenas during the year before he requested the stoppage of in-game ceremonies.

Bryant's final season was capped off with an unforgettable 60-point game against the Utah Jazz, giving Los Angeles one more victory in its last game of the season.

As for Duncan, he transitioned into a low-usage role during the twilight of his career. He averaged 8.6 points per game in his 2015-16 campaign before announcing his retirement just more than two months after the Spurs were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals.

No matter which method James chooses, he's already left a lasting impact on the league that will endure long after he's finished playing.