From the Athletic: what will LeBron do?

[msgkings322]

LeBron could be done

Tomorrow, the Lakers begin their playoff series against the Rockets as a shorthanded crew. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are both out indefinitely for L.A., which leaves 41-year-old LeBron James as the centerpiece of an undermanned team. It could be the last time we see James play in the NBA, per a report from The Athletic this morning. Quick notes: The story is deeply reported by Dan Woike and Sam Amick, and includes that retirement is a very real option for James this offseason. Sources said James does not want a farewell tour. This choice would align with that. But James is still really, really good. The Lakers would welcome him back, as his run with a healthy Dončić and Reaves was fearsome. The Warriors are a possible landing spot, though, as are the Cavaliers. Seriously. ^^^ he does NOT want a farewell tour? Who had that on their LeBron bingo card?

 

[tlance]

LeBron could be done

Tomorrow, the Lakers begin their playoff series against the Rockets as a shorthanded crew. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are both out indefinitely for L.A., which leaves 41-year-old LeBron James as the centerpiece of an undermanned team. It could be the last time we see James play in the NBA, per a report from The Athletic this morning. Quick notes: The story is deeply reported by Dan Woike and Sam Amick, and includes that retirement is a very real option for James this offseason. Sources said James does not want a farewell tour. This choice would align with that. But James is still really, really good. The Lakers would welcome him back, as his run with a healthy Dončić and Reaves was fearsome. The Warriors are a possible landing spot, though, as are the Cavaliers. Seriously. ^^^ he does NOT want a farewell tour? Who had that on their LeBron bingo card?

It checks out honestly.

For all that was made about “the decision” and the way he handled it…

In that time period most of the other big names that headed to feee agency absolutely held their franchises hostage in the final year of their contracts.

LeBron never let that happen. He played out his deal and deflected media questions despite his free agency being a marquis event.

 

[R.J. MacReady]

LeBron could be done

Tomorrow, the Lakers begin their playoff series against the Rockets as a shorthanded crew. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are both out indefinitely for L.A., which leaves 41-year-old LeBron James as the centerpiece of an undermanned team. It could be the last time we see James play in the NBA, per a report from The Athletic this morning. Quick notes: The story is deeply reported by Dan Woike and Sam Amick, and includes that retirement is a very real option for James this offseason. Sources said James does not want a farewell tour. This choice would align with that. But James is still really, really good. The Lakers would welcome him back, as his run with a healthy Dončić and Reaves was fearsome. The Warriors are a possible landing spot, though, as are the Cavaliers. Seriously. ^^^ he does NOT want a farewell tour? Who had that on their LeBron bingo card?

I say there is no way Lebron just sleeks away from the game ....not with his ego.

He will let the speculation fester and then sign a 1 year deal with a contender ..and he will say it's his last year
And boom, there is your Farwell tour.

The Lakers cut him lose with no extension ...Lebron's ego will not let that go unpunished.

.

 

[msgkings322]

I say there is no way Lebron just sleeks away from the game ....not with his ego.

He will let the speculation fester and then sign a 1 year deal with a contender ..and he will say it's his last year
And boom, there is your Farwell tour.

The Lakers cut him lose with no extension ...Lebron's ego will not let that go unpunished.

.

That’s kind of the conventional wisdom on him which is why that link surprised me and I made this thread.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Id suspect the NBA would prefer he do a farewell tour.

 

[R.J. MacReady]

Id suspect the NBA would prefer he do a farewell tour.

The NBA maybe ....ESPN, you better believe it.

Yesterday PTI called Lebron "beloved" ....I almost feel of the couch.


.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

The NBA maybe ....ESPN, you better believe it.

Yesterday PTI called Lebron "beloved" ....I almost feel of the couch.


.

Among those who watch the NBA today and people affiliated with the sport Id certainly say his image is overwhelmingly positive.

Among the bitter 55 plus crowd that gave up on the NBA he is the face of what is "wrong" with the league.

Despite being a substantially better human being than MJ ever was.

 

[R.J. MacReady]

Among those who watch the NBA today and people affiliated with the sport Id certainly say his image is overwhelmingly positive.

Among the bitter 55 plus crowd that gave up on the NBA he is the face of what is "wrong" with the league.

Despite being a substantially better human being than MJ ever was.

Is there a single Lebron guy on the planet without an inferiority complex when it comes to MJ?



.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Is there a single Lebron guy on the planet without an inferiority complex when it comes to MJ?



.

I am a Pistons fan, hardly a Lebron guy

 

[trojanfan12]

Is there a single Lebron guy on the planet without an inferiority complex when it comes to MJ?



.

How is it an inferiority complex to point out that Lebron has been a better human being than MJ?

Seems to me, the inferiority complex rests with the MJ fans who have to throw shade at Lebron and/or his fans every time someone suggests that he has a strong case for GOAT.

Ftr, I have essentially a 3 way tie for GOAT with MJ, Kareem and Lebron.

 

[RobToxin]

Does this guy ever freakin' age?

It's absolutely bullshit that he can be the age he is and play at the level he still plays at.

As a 55 and over person, that's what pisses me off! That sumbitch will be 60 years old and still in the top ten in talent 20 years from now.

 

[trojanfan12]

Does this guy ever freakin' age?

It's absolutely bullshit that he can be the age he is and play at the level he still plays at.

As a 55 and over person, that's what pisses me off! That sumbitch will be 60 years old and still in the top ten in talent 20 years from now.

It's really not fair. lol

There have been guys who were able to stay in the league in their 40's, but none that played anywhere close to this level.

Kareem probably comes closest as he was still a starter, but he really didn't come close to the level Lebron is playing at.

 

[thunderc]

This is the first step in finding out the max amount of money he can get from the Lakers. Then he will begin the serious thinking, it hasn’t happened yet.

 

[shopson67]

I think he's a Laker until he retires. Especially with Bronny having one more year left on his contract. He just said his favorite part of his career is being able to share the court with Bronny, gotta think he wants more of that next year. That main question remains though, at what salary cost?

 

[Hotel Security]

>The story is deeply reported by Dan Woike and Sam Amick, and includes that retirement is a very real option for James this offseason.

If this is a real point of this story than these guys are complete hacks who are putting this out just to get attention...or they're schmucks who seriously believe Bron's nonsense when his people drip these rumors out. Of course he's not retiring. He can go and still go well. He's not hanging it up. I'm sure he's done with the Lakers but there's a bunch of places he can fit in.

>Does this guy ever freakin' age?
>It's absolutely bullshit that he can be the age he is and play at the level he still plays at.

Bron's 41 and Doc Rivers made the point that this was his age when he got his first head-coaching job.

 

[trojanfan12]

I think he's a Laker until he retires. Especially with Bronny having one more year left on his contract. He just said his favorite part of his career is being able to share the court with Bronny, gotta think he wants more of that next year. That main question remains though, at what salary cost?

Depends, imo. I don't see the Lakers giving him another max deal. Especially since they'll be looking to re-sign AR who's expected to turn down his player option and become a free agent.

So, it may come down to how much less than a max deal that he's willing to play for and if the Lakers are willing to meet that price.

His choices are likely to be pretty limited. He's not going to go to a non-contender and I don't think there will be any contenders besides the Lakers who will have the cap space to give him a max deal.

If he and the Lakers can't reach a deal, maybe he goes to Golden State? There have been rumors about him wanting to play with Steph for years...if he, Steph and Jimmy can stay healthy...maybe they can make a run?

 

[trojanfan12]

I say there is no way Lebron just sleeks away from the game ....not with his ego.

He will let the speculation fester and then sign a 1 year deal with a contender ..and he will say it's his last year
And boom, there is your Farwell tour.

The Lakers cut him lose with no extension ...Lebron's ego will not let that go unpunished.

.

Actually, his ego may be exactly what keeps him from doing a farewell tour.

Considering that he can be a bit polarizing...the fan reaction at some of the arenas around the league may be fairly mixed. Might be like Draymond Green said to Paul Pierce: "Chasing that farewell tour? They don't love you like that. You thought you was Kobe?"

His ego may not allow him to risk getting boo'd in some places on his farewell tour.

 

[Hotel Security]

^Everything I hear is the Lakers are just done with him, period. And we know Jeanie Buss's done with him and she probably still has influence there. I don't think it's a money debate.

>There have been rumors about him wanting to play with Steph for years...if he, Steph and Jimmy can stay healthy...maybe they can make a run?

I'd find this about as lame as the Durant move. It's the player and team who kept you from multiple titles and probably ruined any chance of this GOAT thing you're desperate about...and you're going to join him? I agree the fit in GS is actually pretty nice but this would be weak s***. But I guess him joining Miami was already weak s*** in the first place so what's another one?

---

>Actually, his ego may be exactly what keeps him from doing a farewell tour.

Oh he'll definitely want to do a farewell tour. The most annoying ones always do.

 

[R.J. MacReady]

Actually, his ego may be exactly what keeps him from doing a farewell tour.

Considering that he can be a bit polarizing...the fan reaction at some of the arenas around the league may be fairly mixed. Might be like Draymond Green said to Paul Pierce: "Chasing that farewell tour? They don't love you like that. You thought you was Kobe?"

His ego may not allow him to risk getting boo'd in some places on his farewell tour.

That is a very good take.

 

[Hotel Security]

^I don't think he'll get the boos we think. Once a guy says he's retiring, most places will be polite and give him applause. I wish the fans wouldn't and would throw tomatoes but every arena will do some half-ass video tribute to him and get polite applause as the announcers gush over him. One of many reasons I hate these farewell tours.