Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Mar 1, 2026.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is one of the most accomplished players in NBA history. He is a four-time NBA champion, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and has had the longest career in league history.
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But James wants to be remembered for his dedication to the sport rather than his impressive list of accolades when he retires.
“I didn’t cheat the game,” James told the California Post. “Listen, I’ve dedicated to this sport. I’ve never cheated the game. I’ve showed up every day on time. I’ve put my work in both on the court, off the court. Just showed grace. That’s what it’s about.
“I’ve just wanted to maximize and squeeze everything I could out of the game because I understood what it gave me, my family and everything. So I was never going to disrespect the game gods. Hopefully there are some highlights in there between my years I’ve played this game. But I never cheated the game. Ever.”
Mar 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images
James Says His Retirement Will Feel Like A Celebration of Life Rather Than A Funeral
James still does not know when he will retire. But it is possible he could retire as early as after this season with the Lakers. He exercised his $52.6 million player option and did not sign a contract extension.
Regardless of when James decides to retire, he said he expects it to feel more like a celebration of life rather than a funeral for his career.
“I kind of look at it like when you lose a loved one and you have a funeral,” James told the California Post in an exclusive interview. “People tend to be sad, but it’s also a celebration of life. I think for me, when I’m done with this game, it’ll be a celebration of life and not of loss. It’ll be a celebration of everything I’ve been able to accomplish in this game, everything I’ve put into it. The moments, all the love.”
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If James wants his retirement to feel like a celebration of life, it seems likely he would want to go on a retirement tour before calling it quits. The Lakers only have 20 more regular season games, so James would not get that chance if he retires at the end of this season.
If James decides to continue his career next season, he will either need to sign with another NBA team or sign a lower-paying contract with the Lakers.
Photo Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images
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