As LeBron James begins his 23rd season in the NBA, his future has once again the center of headlines. At his 40 years of age, Los Angeles Lakers icon still plays at a top level, but retirement rumors refuse to fade away.
The discussion was renewed after ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, who has covered James since he was in high school back in Akron, spoke on ‘The Hoop Collective‘ podcast. Windhorst dismissed the notion that James is slowing down.
“As long as he remains healthy, there’s no sign he’s slowing down,” Windhorst added, referencing James’ consistency and his capacity to be one of the league’s finest players.
Fellow expert Tim Bontemps concurred, but he also labeled James “a top-10 to 15 player” now despite his age.
Lakers commitment
James has also opted in for the 2025-26 season for $52.6 million, ensuring his return to LA. The contract makes him the first player in league history to play 23 NBA seasons.
James played 70 games last season, accumulating 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game and shooting 37.6% from outside the arc. Statistics comparable to players half his age.
Rumors of a new league
Off the court, there is way more. James’ business collaborator for many years, Maverick Carter, has been in discussions, according to reports, of developing a “global basketball circuit” with international host cities and men’s and women’s divisions.
Although the proposal has fueled speculation that James might have an escape, sources say there has been no formal offer for him to exit the NBA. Competitive balance, economics, and consumer demand are some among the issues left unsettled.
For James, it is not just records on the line. He has described playing with his son as his “No. 1 achievement” in basketball.
When asked how old he is, James brushed off the speculation.
“Age is not a factor,” he said to CGTN Sports Scene. “I feel young every time I get on the court … it’s about that victory.”
In the midst of many rumors, all indications are that James will remain with the Lakers with an elite level of play. Retirement rumor-mongering is probably unavoidable for a 40-year-old veteran, but LeBron James is showing, as he did four years ago, that his own legacy is still underway.
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