Lebron James Retirement Odds: Let There be Drama for the Offseason

Let “The Decision” Part Two commence. LeBron James, via his social media, posted cryptic comments that alluded to his retirement. Say it ain’t so! The “GOAT” could retire prior to the 2023-24 NBA season. The LeBron James retirement odds are heavily against it, however, at -2000 (89.5 percent implied probability) that he stays active. Still, the drama will play out all offseason long.

LeBron James in Recent Seasons

Does James Still Have “It”?

They say “Father Time is undefeated”. And not even the mighty LeBron James can forever elude his grasp. That seemed to be case this past year as James, while battling injuries, did not dominate as most have been accustomed to. He and his Lakers got swept by the Nuggets in a series that saw him fade in the second half of Game 4.

Still, James averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists on 49.8 percent shooting in the playoffs. He shot just 26.4 percent from deep, his worst mark since 2015, but the 38-year-old still played like a superstar.

But with his Lakers falling short again, James may seriously be considering retirement. He has been injured every season with the Lakers and has not played a full season since 2017-18. He’ll be 39 by the end of the year. He has the four titles, four MVPs, and the all-time scoring record. With nothing else to prove, there might be value in betting “yes” with the LeBron James retirement odds.

The Lakers are Wishy Washy Contenders

Even if James is still putting up All-Star stats, the Lakers have not fared too well on the NBA standings or even the sportsbook. Since he arrived in Tinseltown, the Lakers are 235-199 and just 200-227-7 against the NBA spreads (ATS). This 46.8 percent cover rate is the second-worst in the league in this span.

The Lakers have been to three playoffs with an NBA title as their best result. This win, which came in the “NBA Bubble” in 2020, was sandwiched by seasons mired by underperformance and injuries. The team also went through several players from former MVPs to aging stars to dozens of role players.

With all of the movement, partly triggered by James (dubbed “LeGM” by fans on social media), the one championship win seems underwhelming. This is the Lakers, a franchise that has 17 titles and 32 total Finals appearances.

If James can’t make the Lakers consistent title threats, he’s playing for nothing more than an also-ran. And given his lofty standards, it may be better to hang it up than to labor in mediocrity. Hence, the LeBron James retirement odds can pick up steam, especially if the media run with this narrative.

In The End, It’s James’s Decision

The fans and media can goad James to retire. But in the end, James will only listen to his inner circle. Going by that social media post, that may just be a knee-jerk reaction to the negative news from the media. But when cooler heads prevail, James may lace it up again and give it one more try.

Everyone else can just wait for the conclusion of the latest edition of The Decision.

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