LeBron James is entering uncharted territory. At 40 years old, with four championships and nearly two decades of dominance behind him, the Los Angeles Lakers star is preparing for his 23rd NBA season—a feat no other player of his caliber has ever achieved. He remains not just a fixture, but a force: still putting up All-NBA numbers, still dictating games with his mind and body, and still anchoring the Lakers’ hopes in a league that continues to get younger around him.

Yet with that longevity comes an unavoidable question: how much longer can he keep this up? Retirement talk has followed LeBron for years, but the noise has grown louder as he balances the grind of an 82-game season with the pull of family milestones—most notably, playing alongside his son Bronny last season, which he called his “No. 1 accomplishment.”

Senior ESPN Insider Brian Windhorst Weighs In

That tension between continuing at an elite level and contemplating what comes next has become a constant topic for insiders. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who has chronicled LeBron’s career for over two decades, recently weighed in on The Hoop Collective podcast: “I keep hearing people like, this might be the last year, this might be the last year. Look, he’s been linked to potentially playing in other leagues. I don’t know, maybe. But if he stays healthy, I do not see LeBron James slowing down.”

Windhorst emphasized that LeBron’s current play does not indicate imminent retirement. “What I can tell you is his play on the court is not indicating somebody who’s near retirement now.” Co-Host Tim Bontemps added that LeBron is “still one of the 10 or 15 best players in the league. Easy,” highlighting that James continues to perform at an elite level despite his age.

No voice resonates louder on that front than ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. He has been covering LeBron since his high school days in Akron, chronicling every phase of his career with unmatched access and insight. When Windhorst speculates about LeBron’s future, it carries a different weight—it’s less rumor, more informed perspective from someone who has walked step-for-step with him for over twenty years.

He added that LeBron is in a unique stage of his career because the Lakers roster has several players who are either entering contract years or have player options, which raises questions about the team’s makeup and roster continuity for the upcoming season. Discussions concerning LeBron’s future outside of the NBA are fueled by the fact that so few of these players have guaranteed contracts.

LeBron James’ Contract and Performance Status

LeBron James is currently on an expiring, $52.6M contract with the Lakers, having accepted his player option, and making him the first NBA player to reach 23 seasons. LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, has emphasized that James wants to stay focused on winning and being competitive, stating that he wants to “make every season count” as the Lakers juggle their present and future with James and co-star Luka Doncic.

On the court, LeBron continues to produce impressive numbers. In 2024-25, he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists over 70 games, ranking among the top 22 in each category. He also maintained solid shooting efficiency, including a three-point percentage of 37.6%. His durability and consistent impact support Windhorst’s view that LeBron’s age alone does not dictate a significant decline.

In an interview with CGTN Sports Scene, LeBron addressed concerns about aging: “Nah, age doesn’t matter. I definitely feel, you know, energetic… anytime I’m out there on the floor trying to give everything I got to my teammates, it’s about that win.”

What Could LeBron’s Other Leagues Mean

Rather than well-known international leagues or tournaments, the speculation about LeBron playing outside the NBA has centered on possible new or alternative leagues as Windy noted, “I keep hearing people like, this might be the last year, this might be the last year. Look, he’s been linked to potentially playing in other leagues. I don’t know, maybe”. LeBron’s long-time business manager and friend, Maverick Carter, has been offering advice to investors trying to start a global basketball league that would compete with the NBA.

With a schedule based on the global circuit of Formula 1, the proposed league would consist of six men’s and six women’s teams that rotate among eight international cities.

LeBron is participating in this endeavor with Carter, but has not yet received a formal offer to join as a player. Earlier this summer, LeBron, Carter, and Nikola Jokic’s agent, Misko Raznatovic, met to discuss the league’s future, bringing much attention to Carter’s idea.

However, the problems with bringing LeBron to this league include maintaining fan engagement, competing on par with the NBA, and providing financial incentives high enough to draw a player of LeBron’s caliber, which is why it is unlikely that LeBron would end up playing.

Though it gets people talking, speculation about other leagues is mainly based on rumors, and LeBron James’ career path is still firmly in the NBA for now. He has exercised his 2025–2026 player option, is still playing at a high level, and his words show that he is more interested in competing than retiring.