Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James remains one of the top players in the NBA even at 40, but he can’t play forever.
His future is always a topic of conversation, and in the opinion of former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague, James is “giving hints” that he isn’t going to play much longer.
Teague said so after disagreeing with the idea that James will play until he’s 45.
“He kinda giving hints off like he tired of playing — not tired, but…he saying s— like, ‘Yo, I’m passing it off to the next generation,'” Teague said.
Asked whether the “signs are there” about James’ NBA days being limited, Teague said they are.
Just weeks ago, James told ESPN after the Lakers were eliminated from the 2025 NBA Playoffs that when it comes to “continuing to play, I don’t know where I’m at.”
When he was asked following L.A.’s elimination about how many more years he plans to play, he didn’t offer a firm answer.
"I don't have the answer to that right now. … we'll see."
LeBron on how much longer he plans to play pic.twitter.com/PwqUrMkKHS
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 1, 2025
James hasn’t officially announced that he will return to the NBA for the 2025-26 season, but the expectation is that he will be back for more. If that does become the case, his contract situation with the Lakers will come into the equation, as he currently has a player option for next season that he could exercise or decline in order to sign a new deal.
This season was James’ 22nd in the NBA, and he still looked like a star. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Unfortunately for him, the Lakers didn’t last long in the playoffs, losing quickly in the first round despite winning 50 games in the regular season. They should have a chance this offseason to build a roster that is more capable of a deep run.
From family ties to a possible fifth ring, there are a number of conceivable reasons for James to keep playing for a bit longer, but ultimately, nobody knows about his future plans as well as he does. At some point this offseason, some clarity will arise as to his plans for next season.
