Here we go. Another LeBron James retirement headline. It is by far one of the most debated topics in basketball. From speculation within the Lakers organization to LeBron himself openly admitting what his family wants: “[Savannah] wants me to f——- retire in the next year or so,” the rumor mill hasn’t stopped spinning, yet LeBron continues to defy the norm. At 40, he still managed to finish 6th in the MVP race. However, even the greatest icons can’t play forever.

Amidst triggering his player option to go on for his 23rd season, one aspect has been consistent in every interview: clarity. Every time LeBron has picked up a hobby or side quest, fans have tried to predict when LeBron James would finally call it quits. But LeBron quickly shut down that assumption during his appearance on 360 With Speedy. “Obviously, I’m on the other side of that hump. The hump for sure.”

They’re like, come on now. Like I’m not about to play another 23 years. That’s for damn sure. And I’m not about to play another 10. So, I’m definitely gearing up to where the end is. I’m not there yet. But I’m super blessed to be able to sit here. Like I said, you said year 23, another signature shoe. I picked up golf. Listen, guys, every time I pick up something new does not mean retirement.”

LeBron James has picked up golf as his new addiction this offseason, like his Lakers teammate Austin Reaves, who welcomed him, saying, “Welcome to the real sport.” LeBron has been playing golf for the past 4 months, including on the day of his Hall of Fame induction, triggering retirement rumors! But he isn’t the only one finding solace. Stephen Curry, 37, the 2023 American Century Championship winner, has been into golf for some time now.

LeBron further highlighted that golf is “just something I want to do. It’s just a little hobby. But retirement is coming. It is coming. It’s just not here just yet.” But this isn’t the first time a side interest or off-court venture has sparked talk of retirement.

Back in 2020, when LeBron expanded his production company SpringHill Entertainment and pushed deeper into film projects, some wondered if Hollywood would pull him away from basketball. Instead, he returned to the floor and delivered one of the most iconic seasons of his career, averaging 26.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game to lead the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship inside the Orlando bubble.

Later, when he openly admitted his dream was to share the court with his son, Bronny, fans assumed his career would end the moment that became reality. But even after Bronny joined the Lakers in 2024, LeBron kept suiting up, putting up 24.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game and insisting the story wasn’t finished.

LeBron has also repeatedly emphasized that he refuses to stay in the NBA past his peak. “I don’t want to be out there as a shell of myself,” he has said in the past, reminding fans that his decision will be as much about pride as performance.

From his debut in 2003 to Year 23 today, LeBron has defied every expectation about how long a superstar can last. And while the chatter around retirement refuses to die down, the only certainty is that he’s not finished yet. For now, the King remains both a global brand and the engine of the Lakers, leaving fans to wonder not just when the end will come, but how spectacular his final act might be.

Why LeBron James’ new hustles don’t mean retirement yet

Even with 22 seasons behind him, LeBron James is chasing challenges as fiercely as ever. His latest target? Building “the greatest storytelling company there is.” In a recent conversation with Speedy Morman, he explained that The SpringHill Company, his media venture, is already producing “shows, podcasts, movies, TV shows, everything, cartoons, everything.”

For LeBron, this isn’t a side hustle but a shot at cultural dominance, one bold enough to rival ESPN’s parent company, Disney. “They’ve done enough. They got enough,” he said, making it clear he sees space for his own empire to rise. SpringHill Company was founded in 2020 as an entertainment development and production company by LeBron James and Maverick Carter. But away from cameras and contracts, though, LeBron’s newest obsession has been on the golf course.

King James admitted why golf hooked him so quickly: “It’s really hard. That’s exactly why, man. I wanted a challenge, and I like just being uncomfortable.” For someone who has mastered basketball’s biggest stages, golf provides a rare space where he can stumble, laugh, and even play through rainstorms without pressure. It also gives him peace.

“Golf is like one of the few places I can go where I don’t get bothered as much.” But despite the rumors swirling every time he adds a new passion, LeBron has one answer to the retirement talk. So, when is LeBron James retiring? Not anytime soon.