At 40 years old, LeBron James is still performing at an elite level, but questions are beginning to surface about how much longer he’ll stay with the Los Angeles Lakers or whether he’ll finish his career with them at all.
According to longtime NBA insider Marc Stein, there’s growing belief that James won’t retire after the 2025–26 season and may even end his legendary career with a different team.
In his latest newsletter, Stein shared a bold prediction that could shift expectations for the final chapter of LeBron’s career.
“I believe that the 2025–26 season, purely speaking in a predictive voice, will not be LeBron's last,” Stein wrote. “I repeat: This is something only he can really know and more of a gut-feel read from me rather than reporting, but I fall into the camp that expects him to announce to the world that a certain season will be his last before it starts.”
James is heading into the final two years of his current contract. While some have speculated the 2025–26 season could be his farewell tour, Stein disagrees. He even suggests James could continue playing for a different franchise.
“I believe that, by saying what I just said in the previous paragraph, it means that I expect him to retire in a uniform that isn't purple and gold,
” Stein continued. “It's pretty clear at this juncture that the Lakers have launched the Luka Doncic era. It certainly appears as though they are approaching the 2025–26 season as LeBron's last in Tinseltown.”
Stein thinks James still has plenty left in the tank and believes playing 25 NBA seasons is “on the table.” However, he doesn’t expect LeBron to break the all-time record for the oldest player in league history, which still belongs to Nat Hickey, who played at 45.
That said, Stein also acknowledged that another move could be complicated, especially this late in James’ career.
“I also have to account for the possibility that I might be underestimating how difficult it could prove for James to switch teams (and cities) one more time after this season given how entrenched he and his family have become in Southern California.”
