When will James retire? He is expected to become the oldest player in NBA history

On June 3, LeBron James' name had long surpassed the field of basketball and became a cultural symbol in the global sports world. In June 2025, when the NBA legend led the Los Angeles Lakers to the Western Conference Finals at the age of 40, the discussion about "when will he retire" once again became the focus of global sports media. Since entering the league as the "Son of Chosen" in 2003, James has written too many incredible chapters, and at this moment, he is launching an attack on more amazing historical records.

**Breaking the physiological limits of cognition**

Medical experts pointed out in the latest research that James spent more than $1.5 million to maintain his body every year, and his muscle loss rate was only 30% of that of professional players of the same age. This season, he still averaged 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game, and his shooting percentage remained at 52%, which is unique in the history of a 40-year-old player. The Lakers medical team revealed that through the advanced "cryotherapy + biomechanical remodeling" system, James' joint age is equivalent to that of a 32-year-old athlete. What's even more amazing is that its body fat rate has remained below 5% for many years, and the core strength test results are even better than some young All-Star players.

**The competitive driving force of the business empire**

James's SpringHill Entertainment Company has valued more than US$1.5 billion, and its lifetime contract with Nike is worth more than 1 billion. Its business territory covers many fields such as sports, film and television, and catering. But as he emphasized in an interview: "Basketball is always my first language." During the 2025 playoffs, he still maintained 4 hours of strength training and video analysis every day. ESPN analysts pointed out that the James team will link the retirement decision to "business milestones" - including completing specific goals such as the Brownies and son competing in the same field and breaking through the 45,000-point mark. His total career score has reached 43,892 points. According to the current pace, it can be achieved in two more seasons.

** Butterfly effect of the league pattern**

NBA President Adam Xiao Hua publicly stated that the league has designed "special terms for retirement tours" for James, allowing teams to hold tribute events without violating the salary cap rules. The scouting system of multiple teams shows that as long as James does not retire, the Lakers management will refuse to start a complete reconstruction. Anonymously revealed: "All our long-term plans include the 'James variables ', and his existence has changed the logic of the free market. " It is worth noting that at the 2025 draft, Brownie James was selected by the Lakers at the 19th pick, which is seen as a strategic arrangement made by the league to continue the legendary story.

**The future picture of technology empowerment**

Exercise science experts have proposed bold predictions: With the help of "smart muscle patches" and gene repair technology being tested, James may be able to fight until he is 45 years old. The Lakers' newly introduced Israeli nano-level recovery equipment can eliminate 80% of athletes' micro-muscle damage within 48 hours. James's private trainers revealed that they are trying to redefine the "peak window" of NBA players as 28-42 years old, which completely subverts traditional perceptions. However, psychologists also pointed out that James' resistance to "mind burnout" is the key - he still maintained his pre-match meditation habits during his rookie years and received regular neurofeedback training.

In the visiting team locker room at the TD Garden Arena in Boston, there was a mantra written by James: "Greatness is not a goal, but a habit." When asked about the retirement schedule, the oldest playoff 30+ gentleman in history smiled: "Wait until one day my sons say to me 'Dad is time to rest ', that is the end. " According to insiders, the James team has initially planned the 2027-28 season as the curtain call, when he will complete the same game with his sons, Brownie and Bryce, and strive for the sixth championship at the age of 42. Regardless of the final decision, this legend, spanning a quarter-century, is redefining the age boundaries of human competitive sports.