LeBron James has been a staple of the NBA All-Star Game for the last 21 years. However, with each passing year, the chances increase that next year we will no longer see the “King” leading the cream of the crop of the NBA, and LeBron himself knows it.
The Los Angeles Lakers forward received his first call to the All-Star Game in 2005, and since then, his name has not been missing a single time from the list of those called up. He has even been named the All-Star Game MVP in 2006, 2008, and 2018.
This year, with the new All-Star Weekend format, LeBron will be part of Shaq’s OGS along with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, James Harden, and Damian Lillard. However, now 40 years old, the King admitted that his chances of returning are diminishing with each passing year.
Is the end near for LeBron?
Speaking to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James was the first to admit that he doesn’t have much time left to enjoy the All-Star Game as a player. “There ain’t going to be many times left. So you take it all and you don’t take it for granted. It’s coming to an end soon.”
There has been a lot of talk in recent years about James’ retirement. The King himself has said he can play at a high level for five to seven more years, but he has also said he doesn’t plan to. He explained that he will retire when he no longer wants to put in the effort required to play at the highest level.
He wants to retire as a Laker
With no exact date for his retirement, James has said he wants to retire as a Los Angeles Lakers player; however, he signed his most recent extension in 2024, for just two years and $101.4 million. Thus, James will become a free agent at the end of next season.
While pundits wonder when James will hang up his sneakers, fans are thrilled to see him play once again in the NBA All-Star Game this Sunday.
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