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14 hours ago
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LeBron must make a final announcement on his retirement in the offseason.
The 40-year-old Los Angeles Lakers superstar has previously stated that he’ll take his time to weigh the pros and cons of stepping away from the NBA as a player.
While there’s a good chance James will give it another go in the big leagues, an ex-NBA center recently urged him to move on from the sport.
"The longevity aspect, I think it's getting a little bit too much now," Olden Polynice, who played 15 seasons in the NBA, said on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast Monday. "Because I'm like, dude, what else you want to do? It's time for you (James) to start thinking about retiring.”
"He ain't getting no fifth ring unless he buys one, It ain't happening.”
From an athletic standpoint, James isn’t what he used to be.
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Above-the-rim finishes and electrifying chase-down blocks were regular occurrences for the 21-time All-Star earlier in his career. However, the four-time NBA champion has shown a slight regression in that regard.
Fortunately, James’ ability to dissect defenses at a high level and utilize his strength to dislodge defenders in the paint hasn't disappeared.
James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game with the Lakers this season, shooting 51.3% from the field and 37.6% from deep while playing alongside Luka Doncic.
With Los Angeles falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, revenge is probably on the former Cleveland Cavaliers star’s mind.
If a center joins the Lakers in free agency and Doncic’s fitness improves, the Lakers could win their first championship since 2020 next year (assuming James opts into his $52.6 million player option and remains with the franchise).
The ball is in James’ court this summer.
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