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LeBron James’ recent revelation that he’ll be returning for a 21st NBA season has been met with some irritation, not for the decision itself, but for the way the Los Angeles Lakers star delivered the message.
After briefly pondering retirement at this year’s playoff exit, James announced at Wednesday’s ESPY Awards that he’ll be back for 2023-24, playfully telling the audience they were ‘lucky’ to get another year out of him.
‘I don’t care how many more points I score, or what I can or cannot do on the floor,’ James said on stage. ‘The real question for me is: Can I play without cheating this game? The day I can’t give everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done.
‘Lucky for you guys, that day is not today.’
The message was not well received by former ESPN anchor Dan Patrick, who chided James and the network on his popular radio show for choosing that moment to make the announcement.
LeBron James rubbed Dan Patrick the wrong way with his announcement at the ESPY Awards
‘I wasn’t waiting for an announcement,’ Patrick said Thursday on Fox Sports Radio. ‘I got one. And then ESPN is treating it like it’s breaking news. And I went, ‘You know what’s breaking news? If he retired. Not that he’s coming back. Who thought that he might retire?
‘It just … it just is needy, and you don’t need it,’ Patrick continued.
Even Colin Cowherd, and avowed James supporter, found the moment ‘cringey.’
‘How about we make something cool in 2024 and beyond — occasional moment of humility by a pro athlete,’ Cowherd said on his show.
‘I like LeBron,’ he continued. ‘I’m pro-LeBron. [But] … ‘How lucky are we?’ A little cringey.’
James’ announcement hasn’t been criticized as much as his 2010 ‘Decision’ – an ESPN-produced special in which he revealed he’d be signing with the Miami Heat in free agency. Detractors found that event to be self-indulgent, and ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan later revealed that then-commissioner David Stern tried to talk James out of the special.
Even Colin Cowherd (pictured), and avowed James supporter, found the moment ‘cringey’
As for James’ future, he could conceivably play until his mid-40s, according to his agent, Rich Paul.
‘Listen, he’s one guy that I’m not gonna say ”no” about,’ Paul told Sirius XM’s Frank Isola and Sarah Kustok on Tuesday. ‘I think it’s important to understand what really motivates him. I know it. Obviously, I have been around … As long as his mind is there, as long as he’s still excited about playing the game, in addition to the health, absolutely [he can].’
Rich Paul hugs LeBron James after a game against the Thunder in February
Known in the gossip pages as ‘Adele’s boyfriend,’ Paul is long-time confidant to James and obviously stands to gain financially if the four-time MVP continues playing. (James has two years and nearly $100 million remaining on his contract, but can opt out of the deal to become a free agent following next season)
But while he’s clearly biased in favor of his friend and client, Paul isn’t necessarily wrong. James’ durability is legendary, having played 1,421 games (10th all-time) and 54,093 minutes (third) in the regular season, as well as an NBA record 282 playoff contests without any career-threatening injuries.
What’s more, James still averaged 35.5 minutes a game last season, while appearing in 55 of 82 regular-season matchups – and he did it while averaging an impressive 28.9 points per night.
‘I always tease him, I said, ”If your athleticism went away, you’d just be Karl Malone, it’s fine. You could pick and pop, shoot the jumper, make the right reads,”’ Paul said, likening James to the burly former Utah Jazz power forward. ‘He can literally play for as long as he wants.’
James previously left open the possibility of retiring after the Lakers were eliminated in the playoffs by the eventual-champion Denver Nuggets.
LeBron James, winner of Best Record-Breaking Performance, Bryce James, Zhuri James, Savannah James, and Bronny James attend The 2023 ESPY Awards
James said he wants to play with his son, Bronny, who will be a freshman at USC next season
‘We’ll see, we’ll see what happens going forward,’ James said at the time. ‘I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest.
‘Just for me, going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about. Appreciate it.’
But since then, reports have surfaced that James planned to return, and on Wednesday, he put any retirement discussion to bed.
James has expressed a desire to play alongside his son, Bronny, who will be a freshman at USC next season and could be an NBA rookie by the 2024-25 season, when James has the right to become a free agent.
