LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, has refuted the notion that the upcoming NBA season will be the final one for the legendary player. In an episode of the "Game Over" podcast with Max Kellerman on July 3, Paul directly addressed the prevailing narrative about James' retirement.
"Who said this is going to be [James’] last year?" Paul questioned during the podcast, as captured in a video clip from the Instagram account @swishcultures. He further elaborated, "No one said this is going to be his last year. No one said that. Also, once he got the green light from Savannah and Zhuri—cause they’re the only ones left in the house—once he got the green light, you can do whatever you want to do."
This clarification comes as James, who will turn 42 during the upcoming season, recently informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will not be returning to the team after eight seasons. The impending free agency has fueled widespread speculation about his next destination.
Paul's comments suggest that the question of where James will play next may be accompanied by the possibility of him continuing his career for potentially multiple seasons. This prospect could broaden the range of interested teams, possibly including franchises that are not solely focused on immediate championship contention.
However, Paul also emphasized that James remains committed to pursuing championships. Any team that signs him is expected to be a strong contender not only in the upcoming season but also in the years that follow.