LeBron James: Is this your last season at the NBA?
LeBron James will play his twenty -third campaign in the NBA. Will it be the last?
LeBron James goes for its twentieth third season in the NBA in a campaign in which he seeks to take the Lakers at the top of the league.
In a role as protagonist in the, but without being the star of the future of the team -the role he occupies Luka Doncic– The inevitable question arises: Is the next campaign the last season of LeBron in the NBA?
The experts of AM850 They answer this and other questions from the star of the Lakers.
1- fiction or reality: This will be the last season of LeBron James.
Victor O. López: Fiction. LeBron could have his days in Los Angeles as a member of the Lakers, but the top scorer of all time has said nothing that makes me think that his retirement is imminent. In fact, I think it could still have a future in the Lakers beyond the 2025-26 season.
Outside the physical, which allows him to continue challenging the father time at 40 years of age, it would be a matter of ego for one of the greats of all time. Obviously his role would reduce over time (although not to the passage that has allowed him to play at a high level in 22 seasons) and the question is whether he could or wanted to adjust his game – and his ego – to remain active. James is possibly the most complete player in history, capable of affecting the game in several ways; Even with a small role, it would be key in any contender.
Marcelo Bousquet: Reality. Beyond its validity, its incredible statistics for their age and the respect of their colleagues who have been able to win, LeBron has nothing to prove. You don’t have to mention all your achievements and all your records to believe that something can change your legacy.
Of course, nothing and no one can take away the right to retire in their own terms. There are indications that mark that this can be your last waltz. At no time gave signs of wanting to extend his presence on the courts for one more season, although the door should not be closed to that possibility. But I think the end is close. LeBron is intelligent enough to realize that retiring on time and providing the best image can simply be the farewell he deserves.
2- A LeBron James number en route to next season …
Hiram Martínez: 23. It is the 23rd season of 23. If that is a signal or not of a farewell campaign, my colleagues will anticipate it. But the significant thing about this is that, in addition to arriving as a historical leader of points, minutes played, scheduled field shots, playoff matches played, points and assists in playoffs and several other categories, ‘The King’ will also be the player who played the most seasons in the league, surpassing Vince Carter. But contrary to Carter, who averaged 5.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 14.6 in his 22 campaign, James had total 24.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 robberies, and 37.9 minutes per games at 40.
While its average points was the lowest since its rookie season, there is no reasons to anticipate that it will be a load on the stall for the Lakers. How much more do you have in the tank? You never know with LeBron.
3- The presence of Luka Doncic will put LeBron …
López: In the role of Escudero for the first time in his career from high school to the present. However, before tied a negative designation, I think Luka can get the maximum to what remains in the James tank.
James continues to have the ability to affect the game in different ways, and now I would not have to handle the ball or have the load that would wear the physical skills that it still possesses.
His status is undeniable, but it is with Luka that James’s game has the ability to continue impacting. Anyway, Luka puts LeBron in a position to succeed. You can’t ask for more.
Bousquet: In a different role than usual. Although somewhere in his career he knew how Anthony Davis In the Lakers, LeBron was always the flag bearer of the team.
For calendar reasons, LeBron and Luka’s timeline lines are completely different, but both are needed. The owner of the ball will be the one who takes number 77, but the one who will help mark the pulse of the team, the one who is able to instill values to his teammates, the one who takes the torch and keeps it alive in moments of uncertainty and the one who preaches with the example in the day to day, will be the king of the 40.
In short, we will not see it as the orchestra director, but as the first soloist of the same. Perhaps assuming a role as essential as that of the director.
4- What will the worst possible version of the season for LeBron James be?
López: In a nutshell, one in which any other typical 40 -year -old player in total decline, instead of the physical unicorn that has been to extend and maintain his career at a very high level, breaking the curve in the process. Do not forget that LeBron is the exception, not the rule.
If between the physical and the mental he does not find a balancing adjusted after being replaced as a face of the franchise, James could face one of his most complicated seasons, perhaps enough to take him to say goodbye to the NBA.
5- What will the best possible version of the season for LeBron James be?
Bousquet: Not very different from what we could see after the Lakers made the change for Luka Doncic. In the first place, we can imagine it by contributing to the quota of experience and serenity necessary to overcome the difficulties that the team may present. Also, providing the leadership quota necessary to keep the team committed to the objective set, in addition to putting all their wisdom at the service of everything and not of individualism.
And finally, to see the best possible version of yourself, stay healthy. In this way, the basketball fan can enjoy his talent game by game.
