LeBron James' contract extension could open retirement door after 2024-25 season

LeBron James' max contract extension with the Lakers potentially raises more questions than it answers. The most pertinent being: Is this LeBron's final year in the league?

Following reports that James will sign a two-year, $104 million extension, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski noted that it's a one-year deal with a player option for the 2025-26 season.

"So LeBron James returns ... and takes his future year-to-year now in the NBA," wrote Wojnarowski.

James had previously stated his wish to play long enough to team up with his son, Bronny James. With that a reality in 2024-25 after the Lakers selected Bronny at No. 55 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, it raises the possibility that LeBron could hang up his jersey next offseason.

But no one knows for sure, even LeBron himself.

He first floated a potential retirement after the Lakers were swept in the 2023 Western Conference Finals by the Denver Nuggets, telling reporters after a Game 4 loss, "Just for me, personally, going forward with the game of basketball, I've got a lot to think about."

Then, after a first-round playoff exit in 2024 (again, against the Nuggets), James spoke to ESPN's Dave McMenamin about retirement :

"It's still coming," James said. "It's not like, 'Oh s---, I'm playing so great this year, you know what? I might play and stick around for even more [time].' No. It's coming."

LeBron is playing at an elite level and has no reason to consider retirement based on production. In 2023-24, he started 71 games and averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.

At the 2024 All-Star weekend, James discussed a potential farewell tour and said he was "50-50" on the prospect.

"I guess I owe it to my fans that's been along this journey with me for two decades plus to give them that moment," James reasoned before revealing, "I've never been that great with accepting praise. It's a weird feeling for me."

What's even more weird is imagining an NBA where LeBron doesn't rule as king. With his contract extension, that time could be here before we know it.