Will LeBron James Retire? Latest NBA Rumors on Lakers Star After Chris Paul's Decision

After Los Angeles Clippers veteran point guard Chris Paul announced that he is retiring at the end of the 2025-26 season, the basketball world is wondering if one of his longtime friends will follow suit.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has made it no secret that he's nearing the end of his iconic career, but he has not yet officially declared that this will be his final year in the NBA.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that sources close to James have "insisted that he remains undecided" about his eventual retirement.

James missed nearly a month of action while dealing with sciatica on his right side before making his season debut last Tuesday in a win over the Utah Jazz. The 40-year-old is in his 23rd season, setting a new NBA record for most seasons played.

Lakers-Jazz Full Highlights

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At this point, James has watched his contemporaries come and go. He's the only member of the famed 2003 draft class still playing in the NBA. He and Paul are the only members of the 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning Redeem Team who are still active.

The Lakers are certainly hoping to help James end his career on a high note. At 12-4, they lead the Pacific Division and appear to be one of the top title contenders in the competitive Western Conference.

If Los Angeles manages to win an NBA championship this year, perhaps that would be enough for James to walk away from the game. Only time will tell if the greatest player of his generation will be ready to hang it up at the end of the season.