LeBron James Hinting at Retirement in His Latest Social Media Post

  LeBron James dropped subtle hints that it may have been his final NBA game after Los Angeles Lakers were defeated by Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals on Monday, after being eliminated in four straight. At 38 years old and nearly turning 16, Bronny is ready for one more season as long as LeBron is playing at least that long. But this year's playoffs proved especially taxing on James due to long flights and physical demands of games against Memphis and Golden State. LeBron James Hints at Retirement in His Latest Social Media Post LeBron James has long been at the center of controversy, but this time may have set off speculation of possible retirement. After losing to Denver Nuggets in Western Conference Finals 3-2 on Monday night and being sent packing by Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton, LeBron seemed uncertain of his next steps on Monday night and seemed uncertain of his next moves. After scoring 40 points and playing all 48 minutes in his team's loss to Indiana, LeBron James was asked about his future and replied that there is much for him to consider during this off-season period. James responded by tweeting his uncertainty over the Lakers' future and his own. Additionally, it appears as though James will no longer play basketball again in the near future. This tweet has been seen over half a million times, leaving many fans curious as to what the former MVP may be up to. It could simply be resting from an exhausting season; or perhaps he is seriously contemplating retirement. Remind yourself that James still has two years remaining on his contract with the Lakers, should he retire they will need to find someone new like when Carmelo Anthony left in 2016. Though James may not announce his retirement just yet, there may be several factors why he might consider it. First and foremost is injury: this season has been marked by foot surgery for James who may need more in the near future. As well as getting older with each season comes less opportunity to recover from major injuries as quickly as in his prime. He has been an integral part of the Lakers franchise for two decades and won multiple championships, driving ticket sales to incredible levels. Additionally, his name alone drives ticket sales; furthermore he's an industry powerhouse who holds endorsement deals with Nike and McDonald's - making the Lakers highly profitable during his time. LeBron James Has Two Years Left on His Contract LeBron James still has two years left on his contract and appears to be contemplating retirement, though that doesn't guarantee anything. Following the Lakers' defeat to Denver Nuggets on Monday, James announced he'd take some time to think about his future in basketball if that decision were to come into fruition - should this transpire he likely receive standing ovations from fans across all levels during each match for as long as he plays! He will also be the only current Lakers player under contract in 2023, meaning the team could sign another max-contract player then. Furthermore, with two years left on his current deal - giving him control of his immediate future until son Bronny enters the NBA draft in 2024. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported from sources that LeBron James has agreed to sign a two-year, $97.1 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. This deal will keep James with Los Angeles until 2024-25 and make him the highest-paid NBA player ever, surpassing Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant in terms of compensation. Furthermore, this agreement includes player options for final year as well as 15% trade kicker and $45 million signing bonus provisions. This deal does not include a no-trade clause because James, at age 38, would no longer qualify under NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement for such protections. Instead, this arrangement ensures that they Lakers won't need to worry about trading James for significant returns when his contract runs out as they would likely not be able to offer him maximum salary or draft picks as part of any future trade deal. Lakers decision to sign James to an extension contract could help keep him at Staples Center through his 40th birthday, which only a handful of players in NBA history have ever managed to do. James showed no signs of slowing down on court during that period and could make plenty of money through marketing his potential post-NBA retirement tour to fans in Los Angeles and beyond. LeBron James Is Considering Foot Surgery As his Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the Western Conference Finals, LeBron James revealed a great deal to consider going forward in his NBA career. Although no decision has been made yet regarding whether or not he plans on retiring, reports indicate he's considering having foot surgery this offseason to address an injury which hampered his performance during playoffs. According to Shams Charania from The Athletic, Lakers star LeBron James will seek second opinions regarding a torn tendon in his foot that has plagued him since February and which sidelined him for one month prior to attempting postseason play despite playing through it. If surgery becomes an option for him, however, two months would likely have to be set aside in his offseason preparation which would effectively end his season early. James has made headlines recently for his mysterious social media posts, especially his most recent one. Given the Lakers are currently facing numerous issues, and no guarantees they'll find their way out, his tweet may serve as an early warning that things might worsen further for his team. Though James did not elaborate, he did mention his signature "Zero Dark Thirty mode." This period of no social media use allows him to focus solely on playing his sport without distractions from social media platforms such as Twitter. Witnesses to his "blackout" have noted its effectiveness at helping him focus. Notably, should James decide to get surgery, it will almost certainly put an early end to his season. With only one guaranteed year remaining on his contract and player options for 2024 becoming available to him as an unrestricted free agent he could become one of the greatest players ever should he opt to hang up his sneakers. There will certainly be enough people prepared to proclaim James the greatest player of all time should that time ever arrive. LeBron James Is Considering Retiring After his Los Angeles Lakers were defeated in the Western Conference Finals by Denver Nuggets, LeBron James admitted he had "a lot of considerations" concerning his future as an NBA player. This statement seemed to hint that retirement might be in his future despite only having two years remaining on his contract and being one of the most iconic NBA figures ever. James may seem unexpected to retire this offseason, especially given how open he has been about his desire to play alongside his son Bronny at USC - Bronny will become eligible for the 2024 NBA draft when attending college - but in reality James might just be trying his luck and trying to force the Lakers to give him what he believes will allow him to return to the top of basketball. Retiring at this stage would cost James significantly, financially. He recently signed a two-year extension and stands to make nearly $47 million next season, according to Sportrac. Additionally, his player option for 2023-24 season would likely exceed $50 million. He may not be at his peak right now, but he remains an elite player and may well be the best on most teams. Additionally, he has proven he can overcome injuries like his foot issue which threatened his playoff chances but was ultimately overcome. Assuming nothing unexpected occurs between now and 2024-25, it's hard to envision James completely abandoning basketball. After two decades spent dominating his position within the league, James has earned the right to decide when his time in the NBA has concluded on his terms. However, he must carefully consider all the implications of retiring this offseason and, should he decide to hang up his jersey, it would be fascinating to observe how his life unfolds post-NBA.