Lakers news: LeBron James may retire from the NBA soon, suggests his son Bryce

LeBron James is set to begin his 23rd season in the NBA this year with the Los Angeles Lakers, breaking the all-time record he currently shares with Vince Carter. However, retirement may be approaching, judging by the words of his own son, Bryce.

The 18-year-old guard recently held an Instagram Live session, where he was asked about the possibility of playing alongside his father in the NBA—just as his brother Bronny did during the 2024-25 season with the Lakers and is likely to do again next year.

“They said my dad still gonna be in the league when I get drafted… I ain’t gonna lie, that’s OD,” Bryce said immediately. “Waiting until I… nah, that’s too much… That’s too much. No. No. He’s gonna be 42, bro.”

LeBron’s second son is just beginning his journey in college basketball. He committed to the University of Arizona to play with the Wildcats less than three months ago and has yet to begin competing there.

Bryce James will start his college career with the Wildcats this year

At the same time, his father is preparing to begin another season with the Lakers, during which he’ll turn 41 at the end of December. That means their timelines remain far apart for now, making it difficult to imagine them sharing the court in the future.

see also

NBA insider reveals key detail about Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James that could impact his future

According to Bryce’s comments, his father would be 42 by the time he’s ready to make the leap to the NBA. That suggests he’s aiming for the pros in two years: James would turn 42 midway through the 2026-27 campaign, meaning two full seasons still lie ahead.

Still, given LeBron’s remarkable longevity and his drive to continue breaking records, it might be premature to rule out the possibility entirely. History has seen many players stay active in the league well into their 40s.

Currently, James ranks 19th among the oldest players to ever appear in an NBA game, at 40 years and 192 days. If all goes according to plan, he’s expected to climb that list during the upcoming year, passing legends like Manu Ginobili, Dirk Nowitzki, Karl Malone, and John Stockton.

To play alongside Bryce, LeBron would need to reach beyond 42 years of age, placing him among the eight oldest players in NBA history. That list is topped by Nat Hickey, who retired just days shy of turning 46. Kevin Willis, Robert Parish, Vince Carter, Udonis Haslem, Dikembe Mutombo, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the other players who remained active past 42.