NBA fans are convinced LA Lakers icon LeBron James is thinking about retiring after he gave a bizarre answer to a question about the 2026 All-Star team.
The 75th edition of the NBA-All Star Game will take place at the Intuit Dome in California on February 15, with twelve players from each conference set to be selected.
This term, the five players selected as ‘starters’ will be chosen by fans, who will count towards 50 percent of the overall vote, with current NBA players and journalists making up the other two quarters.
Meanwhile, seven players selected as ‘reserves’ will be chosen by NBA head coaches.
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Voting officially opened on December 17 and will close on January 14. And now that the All-Star Game is fast approaching, fans and journalists are keen to see who the current crop of NBA talent will be voting for.
And during the LA Lakers’ 143-135 victory over the Utah Jazz on December 18, Keyonte George, who is having a breakout season during which he is averaging 23.9 points and 6.8 assists per game, impressed once more by scoring 34 points and eight assists against the Lakers during his side’s loss.
As expected, his performances have left many wondering if he will be selected for the All-Star Game, with the question put to LeBron after the game.
However, the 40-year-old gave a rather unexpected answer.
“I'm the wrong guy to ask that question, champ,” he told a reporter.
“I watch YouTube golf these days. I'm the wrong guy to ask about that.
"He played great tonight, played great the last time we played them, and he's playing good ball versus us."
The four-time championship winner’s response has prompted a reaction from fans on social media, with some suggesting he could retire at the end of his 23rd season in the league.
One said: “I hate to say it, his heart is not all the way in it. I’m a big Lakers fan, and that’s reality. That’s why when we faced Minnesota before, he was laughing with Anthony Edwards, it’s over, y’all. He needs to retire at the end of this year.”
Another added: “Man, coming from a LeBron fan, I don’t understand why he just doesn’t retire. He’s never like this. Especially when it comes to praising a young up-and-coming guy.”
While a third commented: “Never understood why older professionals find it so hard to give younger guys their props.”
Given the fact that LeBron is 40, he is obviously closer to the end of his career than the start, with the NBA star conceding that retirement is coming “a lot sooner than later” in September of 2025.
James said that he was still “super-invested” before admitting “I don't know when the end is” and that he does “know it's a lot sooner than later”.
When ‘King James’ does call time on his illustrious career, he will be remembered as one of the GOATs alongside Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.
Topics: Lebron James, NBA, LA Lakers, Basketball
Luke Davies