Lebron James will retire from the NBA in 2025

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LeBron James is not just a basketball player, he is an icon who has redefined what it means to be an athlete and an entrepreneur. His journey from a talent in Akron, Ohio, to one of the greatest players in NBA history has been an amazing story, and this season has shown that 2025 will be his farewell tour. Much speculation suggests that 2025 will mark the end of his illustrious career.

The family legacy

LeBron has always been vocal about his desire to play alongside his son. He has mentioned in numerous interviews that one of his life goals was to play with Bronny in the NBA, which has become a deeply personal mission for him. This idea wasn’t just a passing dream, but an ambition that kept LeBron motivated well into his late 30s, despite the physical wear and tear that comes with playing basketball at the highest level for long periods of time.

For LeBron, playing with Bronny isn’t just about family pride – it’s about securing the ultimate family legacy. Having achieved almost everything there is to achieve in the NBA – four NBA championships, four MVP awards, countless All-NBA selections and a career that has spanned multiple eras – LeBron has the role of more than just him Mentors and fathers took on their own children, but also on the next generation of basketball stars. Playing alongside Bronny was a great moment and he will have one last season to do it.

The physical toll

While LeBron James has defied age far longer than most athletes in NBA history, father time is inevitable. At 40, even the greatest players face the reality that their bodies can no longer perform the same way they once did. LeBron has been remarkably resilient throughout his career, but as he enters his final season, the wear and tear on his knees, back and entire body is starting to show.

LeBron’s recent decision to focus on playing a limited number of games during the regular season in order to achieve optimal health in the playoffs shows that he is aware of this reality. He has said on numerous occasions that he wants to play until he feels he can no longer play at an elite level, but he also knows that it will forever be time to retire. Given that Bronny James is slowly finding his feet in the NBA G-League, we should expect Lebron James to use the 2025 season as his farewell and focus on legacy rather than one final championship.