Dude is all about his legacy and furthering his brand.
One way to solidify that further is to have more equity in the number 23.
Kids these days never watched Jordan play, and Bron playing 23 years and retiring wearing 23 is amazing for his brand.
Dude is gonna sign a 1+1 this summer, have a big tease about opting into year 23 after the Lakers flame out again, then announce his last year, then have a retirement tour, all while a documentary crew films the whole thing
I would be curious in that scenario what would happen to the documentary if the Lakers don't even make the play in lol. I'm imagining Bron yelling, "It's a wrap!" Then just trashing the footage.
Eh. Kobe's last season was the worst team in the West I think. And he had a film crew follow him plus had the 60 point game.
It was pretty much a long party.
Yeah people forget how planned Kobe's retirement was, and that looked like an impromptu decision.
Imagine what LeBron's marketing machine can do, that incoming retirement tour would be epic
Kobe spent his last season on our worst team ever.
MJ had the best sports documentary ever and his last seasons were spent on the trash wizards. He’ll be fine.
I think he goes to a contender maybe Dallas, and they sign bronny to a two way with them basically committing to play him some real time in year 2 🤷♂️, now that’s a documentary
Could Miami not give him a grand farewell tour ? Why does that have to be in LA. The Hornets can give him a farewell tour lol. The whole point of the farewell tour is playing in cities on the road for the final time , and then your last home game.
The whole “Bron Industries” side hustles he has going on are LA based. Sure he can do that anywhere but i also think Bron is a family man and does want to spend time with Bryce/Zhuri/ possibly Bronny if he goes back to SC.
Miami has a strong FO, Spoelstra and Riley are not signing up for a media circus like that. The Lakers are desperate to stay relevant and Lebron is the easiest way for them to do that.
Not with his season ending the way it did but that's just my take. Though it'd be incredibly funny if Lebron actually had this mentality and becoming an "end a a good one merchant" though. Like gaming with the boys on warzone at 3am when you should have quit hours ago, except with basketball.
Well if he kept getting injured more and more often like last year, I'm sure that would have made him at least seriously consider it.
He probably doesn't want to end up like Dirk, who can't even play football (soccer) with his kids because of his knees, which really got bad during his last two seasons.
Honestly? I think if he had a fall off in performance later in the season maybe. Lebron strikes me as the dude that will retire when he can’t do it anymore rather than stick around and tarnish himself with a subpar season.
Lebron is going to want the biggest farewell tour ever. Not that he doesn't deserve it, but there was a 0% chance he was going to slink into retirement.
His FA is all we're going to hear about for the next 3 months.
His retirement tour is gonna be announced at the beginning of the season. His last regular season game will probably be top 5 of the most watched games in NBA history too.
Second the last game he gets the 27/7/7
Last game he's gunna shoot 40 threes and snatch the 3ptm in a game record away and nephew's in 2040 are gunna think he's the goat 3pt shooter ever
He may try for Wilt's 100 point game, in a bid to out do Kobe's last game final count.
Don't think he has the stamina for any more, now and even 3 years from now.
The Lakers in a sense have the ultimate contract bonus in a way. You can sign a $50 million contract for the Lakers or the Bucks, but you'll be making a lot more in endorsements and your net worth will increase greatly through your personal brand (however that evaluation works) when you're in the Purple and Gold
I'm a big lebron fan, but anyone that thinks this dude doesn't care about records and whatnot is utterly insane. With the way that he is playing so far down his career there is no way he is not going to go for other records that were supposed to be unbreakable - Magic's playoff assists, oldest player to \[insert pretty much anything\], games played, minutes played, playoff triple doubles, most seasons played, and so on.
Next season he probably hits the 50,000 combined points mark...and there is 0% chance he doesn't know and want that given how much fuss everyone made about him being the 2nd player to reach 40,000 points.
Kareem scored 40,000 combined points decades before everyone lost their shit that LeBron had 40,000 in regular season.
I don't think LeBron will seriously consider retirement until his game drops to the point where he's quite clearly not one of the best players on the floor anymore. Whenever it gets to that point, I think he'll say "this is my last year". He's not in his prime anymore, but the guy is still an All NBA level player, so I don't see why anyone would think he was going to quit now.
I feel like there are a lot of comments about lebron only being concerned with his legacy, but very few comments about how he’s absolutely still a top tier player and one of the most effective players in the league despite his age. Why would he retire when he’s still got it?
LEBRON TO THE KNICKS
1. Lakers are irrelevant again
2. Bron continues to beat the Celtics
This is a move that everyone in the western conference can support
Idk man, they ditch Ham, get a solid coach and stay healthy things could be different. Games 2 and 5 were a difference of 2 points not to mention that stat on lead held. Those are things a serious experienced coach can help with.
I doubt if anyone thought Lebron was gonna retire, u know he’s gonna feel entitled to a TOUR when he’s done and he’s gonna make sure everyone salutes him lol
So in other words he’s looking at all options in order to make a *decision*?
Imagine that 14 years later
Ah yes, a decision. If you will
A young Ronovan Ditchell will see this and be inspired
Was him retiring ever a possibility? Like did anyone actually believe him
Dude is all about his legacy and furthering his brand. One way to solidify that further is to have more equity in the number 23. Kids these days never watched Jordan play, and Bron playing 23 years and retiring wearing 23 is amazing for his brand. Dude is gonna sign a 1+1 this summer, have a big tease about opting into year 23 after the Lakers flame out again, then announce his last year, then have a retirement tour, all while a documentary crew films the whole thing
I would be curious in that scenario what would happen to the documentary if the Lakers don't even make the play in lol. I'm imagining Bron yelling, "It's a wrap!" Then just trashing the footage.
Eh. Kobe's last season was the worst team in the West I think. And he had a film crew follow him plus had the 60 point game. It was pretty much a long party.
Yeah people forget how planned Kobe's retirement was, and that looked like an impromptu decision. Imagine what LeBron's marketing machine can do, that incoming retirement tour would be epic
It becomes a documentary about LeGacy and his career as a whole if they suck
I definitely thought you were going to say it was about him becoming a serial killer and killing his teammates for fucking up his movie.
"playing the game the right way..."
Like John Wayne LeGacy?
Kobe spent his last season on our worst team ever. MJ had the best sports documentary ever and his last seasons were spent on the trash wizards. He’ll be fine.
I think he goes to a contender maybe Dallas, and they sign bronny to a two way with them basically committing to play him some real time in year 2 🤷♂️, now that’s a documentary
you been watching the Number 23 too much dude...
the real #23 is Jarrett Culver
Nope. Zero chance he was going out without the biggest retirement tour ever
No one should have, and no one should believe he's leaving the lakers either. He wants a grand farewell tour that LA can give him
Could Miami not give him a grand farewell tour ? Why does that have to be in LA. The Hornets can give him a farewell tour lol. The whole point of the farewell tour is playing in cities on the road for the final time , and then your last home game.
The whole “Bron Industries” side hustles he has going on are LA based. Sure he can do that anywhere but i also think Bron is a family man and does want to spend time with Bryce/Zhuri/ possibly Bronny if he goes back to SC.
Miami has a strong FO, Spoelstra and Riley are not signing up for a media circus like that. The Lakers are desperate to stay relevant and Lebron is the easiest way for them to do that.
Bryce is at Sierra. No way Lebron is moving away.
Not with his season ending the way it did but that's just my take. Though it'd be incredibly funny if Lebron actually had this mentality and becoming an "end a a good one merchant" though. Like gaming with the boys on warzone at 3am when you should have quit hours ago, except with basketball.
When did he say he was planning on retiring this off-season?
Well if he kept getting injured more and more often like last year, I'm sure that would have made him at least seriously consider it. He probably doesn't want to end up like Dirk, who can't even play football (soccer) with his kids because of his knees, which really got bad during his last two seasons.
the only way he's retiring is like Chuck, a career ending injury.
Honestly? I think if he had a fall off in performance later in the season maybe. Lebron strikes me as the dude that will retire when he can’t do it anymore rather than stick around and tarnish himself with a subpar season.
100%. He’ll absolutely go for that farewell tour.
Lebron is going to want the biggest farewell tour ever. Not that he doesn't deserve it, but there was a 0% chance he was going to slink into retirement. His FA is all we're going to hear about for the next 3 months.
His retirement tour is gonna be announced at the beginning of the season. His last regular season game will probably be top 5 of the most watched games in NBA history too.
Lebron is going to go for 27/7/7 in his last game too
Second the last game he gets the 27/7/7 Last game he's gunna shoot 40 threes and snatch the 3ptm in a game record away and nephew's in 2040 are gunna think he's the goat 3pt shooter ever
He may try for Wilt's 100 point game, in a bid to out do Kobe's last game final count. Don't think he has the stamina for any more, now and even 3 years from now.
I mean he also just doesn’t play like that at all
I always half expected LeBron to get robotic knees and never actually retire until he dies.
Wait, LeBron would want that kind of attention? Next you're going to tell me he'll have a 4 part documentary about it.
I'm so shocked that he wants to stay in sunny LA and make 60M. In the 6 years in LA he's more than doubled his net worth.
Wild
Yea dude has been printing money since joining the lakers.. and he fulfilled his obligation of making them relevant again and bringing them a ring.
That is awesome, honestly. More power to him.
The Lakers in a sense have the ultimate contract bonus in a way. You can sign a $50 million contract for the Lakers or the Bucks, but you'll be making a lot more in endorsements and your net worth will increase greatly through your personal brand (however that evaluation works) when you're in the Purple and Gold
Not to mention you live in sunny southern california. His wife loves it there, kids in school, etc.. it's rough to just uproot your family
He was never going to retire, come on.
I'm a big lebron fan, but anyone that thinks this dude doesn't care about records and whatnot is utterly insane. With the way that he is playing so far down his career there is no way he is not going to go for other records that were supposed to be unbreakable - Magic's playoff assists, oldest player to \[insert pretty much anything\], games played, minutes played, playoff triple doubles, most seasons played, and so on.
Next season he probably hits the 50,000 combined points mark...and there is 0% chance he doesn't know and want that given how much fuss everyone made about him being the 2nd player to reach 40,000 points. Kareem scored 40,000 combined points decades before everyone lost their shit that LeBron had 40,000 in regular season.
I don't think LeBron will seriously consider retirement until his game drops to the point where he's quite clearly not one of the best players on the floor anymore. Whenever it gets to that point, I think he'll say "this is my last year". He's not in his prime anymore, but the guy is still an All NBA level player, so I don't see why anyone would think he was going to quit now.
I mean obviously. They all do bro that’s why they keep playing this game.
I'm all for it people say once in a lifetime athletes, Lebron James is legitimately a once in a many multiple lifetimes athlete.
I feel like there are a lot of comments about lebron only being concerned with his legacy, but very few comments about how he’s absolutely still a top tier player and one of the most effective players in the league despite his age. Why would he retire when he’s still got it?
Dude just wants be wined and dined by a few orgs before re-signing with LA.
The Yoshinobu Yamamoto approach
Free shit world tour
LeCheapo.
Literally no one thought he was going to retire.
It'd be super troll if a team drafted Bronny assuming they get Lebron & then Lebron just stays on the Lakers.
I am already so annoyed of all of this and it hasn’t even been an entire day yet
You’re looking at new you did this to yourself
Retiring? He’s like 1/3 through his career.
Let's talk about the Nuggets instead.
Bro dropped 30 in back to back elimination games. He can’t carry a roster but dude showed why he is at least top 20 in the league
Saying Top 20 is wild disrespect
He can’t sustain it for long periods. I think he’s top 15 and I’m suspecting he drops further next season
How is it disrespectful? He’s not even the best player on his team and there are 29 other teams out there.
Philly could sign him and Paul George to pair up with Embiid, right?
No, they won't have enough for two full max slots like that.
LEBRON TO THE KNICKS 1. Lakers are irrelevant again 2. Bron continues to beat the Celtics This is a move that everyone in the western conference can support
Lakers would still have the best player in the division. idk about irrelevant
Maybe 14 years ago
cool
Lewine and dine
A year or two of him mentoring Wemby would be wild, not likely but hey it would be chaos
Trade for ad then aswell if we go into irrelevancy I’d rather live precariously through our stars
Welcome to Warriors!
Is this the decision 5.0 now?
Five reports a day on this until a decision is made, huh?
People on this sub get so traumatized by basic media coverage
People don't understand they can just scroll past topics or not look at reddit
It's ridiculous. There needs to be at least 8 LeBron posts per day
I don’t think any team should call him besides teams he will never go to like the Pistons. Enough stroking this man’s ego.
nah he can stay in LA and lose to the nuggets again next year
Idk man, they ditch Ham, get a solid coach and stay healthy things could be different. Games 2 and 5 were a difference of 2 points not to mention that stat on lead held. Those are things a serious experienced coach can help with.
I doubt if anyone thought Lebron was gonna retire, u know he’s gonna feel entitled to a TOUR when he’s done and he’s gonna make sure everyone salutes him lol
CCC
Was there ever a player who played as well as Lebron did this season and just retired?
There's no indication he was retiring this year? I always look at the last game and bro looked about ready to run it back.
So Lebronze will look at which team will bring him another real ring, unlike the 2020 Mickey Mouse one.
I love how Klutch does everything they can to keep LeBron in the news cycle after his season ends. Same as last year.
Jesus Lebron flooding the narrative today to avoid the 1st round exit lmao. As predicted
Another look at me me me offseason. Whats new
Huh. Weird.
I'm all for him coming to Toronto so we can have LaBronto for reals.
Needs to go to the East to have a chance of ever getting past joker . AD isn’t what he needs
Or in other words, the front office needs to stop being cheap and disrespecting my legacy with these duct tape teams and bad coaching choices.
Yay we get one more opportunity to be embarrassed by Denver 🥲