LeBron James reveals timeline on decision to retire or continue NBA career

Benjamin Royer, The Orange County Register on May 21, 2026

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When LeBron James spoke to the media at the end of his 23rd NBA season, he expressed that he wasn’t sure what the future held for him and his Hall of Fame career.

“When the time comes, then obviously you guys will know what I’ve decided to do,” James said last week after the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the postseason by the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in a second-round series.

The 41-year-old could choose to retire. He could return to the Lakers. Or the league’s all-time leading scorer could continue, and potentially end his career in another city entirely. On the “Mind the Game” podcast, which James co-hosts alongside former NBA star guard Steve Nash, the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent repeated his uncertainty about the future but also provided insights as to when he might make his decision on what’s next.

“Obviously, I understand that I’m a free agent and I can control my own destiny,” James said on the podcast. “If being here with (the Lakers) for the foreseeable future or if it’s going somewhere else. But, I haven’t even really even got to that point.”

James continued: “I think at some point, up until, in June, late June, as July rolls around, free agency starts to gets going and July rolling, maybe into August, we start to kind of get a feel of what my future may look like. If it’s continuing to play the game that I love, which I know I can still give so much to the game and play at a high level, or if it’s not. But I have not got to that point yet, and yeah, when I get there, it’ll be fun to kind of see what what the future could hold.”

James said on the podcast that where he is most comfortable playing is “1A” and where his family is most comfortable is “1B” for his decision-making process. James’ eight-season stretch in Los Angeles, since signing with the Lakers in 2018, is his longest tenure with one franchise during his 23-year career.

Be sure to rule out rebuilds if James chooses to play a 24th season. The four-time league MVP and four-time champion said “there is no way” he would play for a team at the bottom of the league.

“Winning is … most important cause you want to, you want to be excited about going to work every day,” he said.

There’s plenty of other factors that could come into play for James’ decision.

The Lakers’ offseason will already be in full swing by early July, and holding the salary cap for James should his decision still be up in the air, will have to be accounted for. James’ son, reserve guard Bronny James, is under contract with the Lakers through next season – with a team option for the 2027-28 season.

James made $52.6 million during the 2025-26 season, the second year of the two-year, $101.4 million contract he signed before the 2024-25 season. He opted into his contract with a player option for last season.

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