LeBron James remains undecided on whether this is his last season

Apr 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) passes against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

At the same time, if James believes this could be his last season -- something that sources close to James have insisted that he remains undecided about -- he might feel even more responsibility to suit up for every game on what would then be a retirement tour.

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And the Lakers have 11 more back-to-backs remaining on the schedule. James' longtime friend and agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, told ESPN that he hasn't discussed James' All-NBA prospects for this season. However, if it were up to Paul, James would take himself out of the running for it. "Look, at 41 years of age, I hope he is not playing back-to-backs," Paul said. "But at the same time, in order for him to make the All-NBA team and things like that ... he can't miss that many more games." ESPN | Nov. 25, 2025

Dave McMenamin: “S—-, this week was kind of like my training camp for me, to be honest. I didn’t get an opportunity to practice with the guys at all throughout camp, throughout the preseason. So I’m still working my way back.” - LeBron James on his conditioning after his second game of the year x.com | Nov. 24, 2025

Dave McMenamin: “Hope he can just get joy out of this final year. …I hope he takes it all in. This is his last hoorah, so we’ll never get this moment again once you’re done to be able to go out and be in the arena.” - LeBron James on what he wishes for Chris Paul in his final season x.com | Nov. 24, 2025

In the court documents, the prosecutors say the FBI uncovered a text message from Jones to one of the gamblers in which he encouraged a big bet on the Milwaukee Bucks in a game in which James was not expected to play. "Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out! [James] is out tonight. Bet enough so Djones can eat too now!!!" James did not know Jones was leaking information about his status, according to multiple sources close to the player. At the time of the indictments, James and Jones had not been on speaking terms for an extended period, sources said. The falling out with James was hard on Jones, both personally and for his job prospects, he told several people over the past few years. ESPN | Nov. 24, 2025

JONES DID MAINTAIN an off-and-on friendship with James for years after they were teammates in Cleveland. Known for having a tight circle, James typically is very selective about whom he lets in. Jones was on the Cavs from 2005-08, and, unofficially, a part of the Lakers' staff in the 2022-23 season, ostensibly because of James' comfort level with him. "LeBron is very into routines," one former Lakers staffer said. "For a while, shooting with D-Jones was part of his routine." Jones routinely traveled with the Lakers, attended practices and had access to the locker and training rooms, sources told ESPN. And, as was his custom, he apparently gambled with them as well. ESPN | Nov. 24, 2025

Angel McCoughtry: I think the main thing we should be talking about a woman, guess what? When I got to come and drop 40 and I'm on my f*cking period, and I'm bleeding, and my stomach hurts and my back hurts when y'all load manage off a headache… Guess what? Let's talk about how awesome that is. Let's talk about how awesome it is that women we have these babies and we come back and still dominate sports. Yeah, you can dunk. A lot of us can't do that. But the awesome things we can do, let's highlight that. Guess what? We are wives. So, it's not easy to take care of a husband and kids and come and dominate a sport. Let's talk about how strong and awesome that is. That's not enough talk we get praised for. If you notice real quick, the elites, Kobe Bryant didn't say that kind of stuff about us. He never did. He only uplifted us and supported us. LeBron doesn't talk that kind of stuff. Why the elites don't talk like that? YouTube | Nov. 23, 2025

In the starting lineup, coming off the bench or even on the pickleball court, Marcus Smart knows he can deliver what the Lakers need. So LeBron James’ return and the question of how it could affect his role isn’t slowing down Smart. “I like to [think of] myself as a Swiss Army knife,” Smart said Saturday as the Lakers prepared for a game at Utah on Sunday. “It’s not one thing I do great, but I do everything very well. … People come back, people get hurt. People have great games, have bad games. You have to adjust to whatever the game is calling for at that moment.” Los Angeles Times | Nov. 23, 2025

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: LeBron James remains undecided on whether this is his last season

Reporting by HoopsHype / Hoops Hype

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