LeBron James sparks NBA retirement speculation on social media
LeBron James sparked a wave of speculation on social media when he announced that he would reveal his “Second Decision” the following day.
The Los Angeles Lakers star posted a nine-second video on X, showing himself walking toward a chair and sitting across from an unknown person, CE Report quotes ANA-MPA.
The caption read: “The decision of all decisions. October 7. 12:00 EST (7:00 PM Greece time). #TheSecondDecision.”
The scene mimics the aesthetic of the 2010 show The Decision, in which James announced that he would leave Cleveland to sign as a free agent with Miami, telling journalist Jim Gray at the time, “I’m taking my talents to South Beach.”
The 40-year-old superstar has not clarified whether the upcoming season will be his last in the NBA, leading many to speculate that he may announce his retirement. Others suggested it could be a marketing initiative tied to his numerous corporate partnerships.
The mysterious post had an immediate impact on Lakers ticket sales, causing prices for the final home game of the 2025-26 regular season to skyrocket.
Before the “King” posted the video, the cheapest ticket for the April 12, 2026, game against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena cost $82. After the video’s release, according to Vivid Seats, single tickets now start at $580, while two-seat options have a minimum price of $760.
The sharp rise in ticket prices is linked to speculation that the next season could be LeBron James’s last in the NBA.
Regarding his playing future, James said last week: “I’m excited to play the game I love for one more year. Whatever the journey brings, I’m fully committed, because I don’t know when it will end—though I know we are approaching the final chapters.”
A 19-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion, James finished last season averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists, ranking sixth in MVP voting. Over his career, he averages 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.
LeBron is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history (42,184 points), as well as the player with the most minutes played (59,041). He has played in 1,562 games—the second-highest total ever—and may surpass Robert Parish (1,611 games) next season to claim the top spot.
