NBA legend Dwyane Wade doesn’t think Los Angeles Lakers superstar small forward LeBron James will retire this offseason.
Wade, who is very close friends with James, thinks the four-time MVP will be back for his 21st season in the NBA in 2023-24.
“I looked at that and thought, ‘I ain’t buying that.’ I know when the season is over and they’re asking him this question in this moment,” Wade told Shannon Sharpe on Sharpe’s podcast. “But also I know, when he gets away, when he goes to Mexico or goes away to the south of France on his Yacht for the summer, he’s gonna look around and say, ‘Okay, the King coming back.'”
After the Lakers lost Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals to the Denver Nuggets, James hinted that he might retire this offseason. The four-time Finals MVP is 38 years old.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers & Dwyane Wade Updates
However, the NBA icon is not expected to retire, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
“Beyond James’ retirement decision — which could be a nonissue, with a source close to James telling ESPN on Thursday that he believes the Lakers star will indeed be back for season No. 21 and fulfill his contract — the biggest question facing the Lakers this offseason is figuring out what to do at point guard,” McMenamin wrote.
James signed a two-year extension with the Lakers last offseason. He has a player option for the 2024-25 season. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer has a torn tendon in his right foot and he may need surgery this summer, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers & Dwyane Wade Updates
If James has surgery, he could be sidelined for two months.
“Lakers superstar LeBron James played the last few months with a torn tendon in his foot that could require surgery this offseason, league sources confirmed to The Athletic,” Charania wrote. “James will undergo further evaluations, but a surgery that could sideline him for two months during the offseason is among the possibilities, sources indicated. If surgery is required, James would be expected to recover by the start of training camp next season.”
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