The Los Angeles Lakers must convince LeBron James to remain with the franchise this offseason. He has a $51.4 million player option for next season. King James could decline it and hit free agency. The Lakers hope to avoid that scenario as the GOAT remains elite and is key to LA returning to contention. Still, the end is near for LeBron.
Things are complicated for James as he approaches his 40th birthday. There is nothing left to prove. He is already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 20 All-Star appearances, four rings, and four MVP honors. LeBron is just playing for the love of the game and chasing another championship at this stage is career.
After a disastrous season for the Lakers that ended in the first round of the playoffs, there is plenty of talk about LeBron’s legacy. He is unquestionably in the GOAT conversation, but Charles Barkley and Kendrick Perkins think it is soon time to hang up the sneakers to avoid damaging his legacy. Only one made the correct point, though.
Kendrick Perkins wants LeBron James to retire right now
Perk went on ESPN’s First Take to share his thoughts on LeBron and the Lakers. The 2008 NBA champion and former King James teammate thinks it is time for the 39-year-old to retire. Perkins made it clear that LeBron will take the blame if the Lakers continue to struggle, and it will impact his argument in the GOAT conversation.
"I wish LeBron James would retire. Not because I don't want to see more of LeBron James. ... The more LeBron James continues to play the game of basketball, the more it's going to hurt his legacy and the more it's going to continue to hurt his GOAT argument."
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 6, 2024
—@KendrickPerkins pic.twitter.com/WbU2IpjDWZ
Calling for King James to retire after he averaged 25.3 points, 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 35.3 minutes per game and shot over 40 percent from 3-point range is a wild take. LeBron remains elite and likely has multiple years left as a star player. A Hall of Famer wants him to be careful about hanging on too long.
Charles Barkley wants LeBron to retire while he can still play
The 11-time All-Star warned King James about holding on too long like he did. Barkley made it clear that he wants LeBron to retire soon, but he was not ready to see him immediately call it quits.
Barkley doesn’t want LeBron to be Michael Jordan with the Wizards. He also gave plenty of praise to King James for his incredible play on the court and his decision-making off of it.
Barkley a makes valid point, while Perks’ take is ludicrous
There is only one right answer to what LeBron James should do. He should be back next season. James was too good not to be. He is still playing at an All-NBA level, even if he is not still the best player in the world.
Barkley had a valid point about LeBron hanging it up before he can no longer make an impact on winning. He should continue to play as long as he remains elite. If King James starts to slip into a shell of himself, it is time to call it quits.
The Los Angeles Lakers hope to bring back LeBron James for the 2024-25 season, and fans should expect him to be elite. He turns 40 in December and cannot play forever, but there is still plenty left in the tank.