LeBron James Wants Major Celebration Before Retirement, Stephen A. Smith Says
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith declared Monday that LeBron James has no immediate plans to retire, emphasizing the Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s desire for a grand send-off as a primary reason he’ll continues to compete past 2025-26.
On First Take, Smith broke down James’ current motivation as he plays deep into his 23rd NBA season.
“[LeBron] ain’t retiring. The reason why he’s not retiring is because he wants to be celebrated,” Smith said.
James, now 41, remains a key contributor for the Lakers and turned heads with his performance during All-Star Weekend. His sustained excellence serves as a model for younger stars around the league.
Retirement discussions naturally arise for players of James’ stature at this stage, but Smith’s comments indicate the four-time MVP still has goals left and wants the NBA community to honor his career appropriately when the time arrives.
For now, he remains locked in on performing at a high level and adding chapters to one of the greatest resumes in league history.