“Is this LeBron James’ last year in the NBA?” has been a recurring question for the past three seasons every time King James suits up for the Lakers. This year, however, the rumors were fueled directly by LeBron himself. On Instagram, he shared a video that doesn’t bode well for James fans. The speculation gained weight given the Lakers’ ‘mistreatment’ by shifting the focus on Luka Doncic, all while sidelining Number 23, highlighting the growing tension.

LeBron James’ post showed him seated in front of a host in a setting reminiscent of “The Decision,” captioned, “The decision of all decisions. October 7th, 12pm EST. 🫡👑.” While the video isn’t directly related, it takes us back to 2010 when LeBron famously announced he was taking his talents to South Beach to join the Miami Heat. Nearly 15 years later, the NBA community is once again abuzz, with the video sending shockwaves and reigniting speculation about what the Lakers superstar might hang up his boots now.

This isn’t the first time King James fans have feared his retirement. However, with so many recent instances, this post has set all the alarms off. In June 2025, a video of LeBron James at a dinner leaked. In the video, he could be heard saying, “Savannah wants me to f—-ing retire in the next year or so.” Moreover, in his recent media day with the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron admitted to being closer to retirement. He said, ” I don’t know when the end is, but I know it’s a lot sooner than later.” Is it coming tomorrow?

That we will get to know tomorrow. But in that same interview, when James asked about whether he would play until his son, Bryce James, is in the league, LeBron said that their timelines do not match. All this building up, and now the Instagram post is hinting towards a reality of retirement being ever so close for LeBron. Just like everything LeBron does, this social media post has also blown up, and the fans all around the world are wondering whether the October 7th announcement will confirm the reality of his retirement.

Fans’ Reaction to LeBron James’ Instagram Post

A die-hard LeBron James fan reacted to the post saying, “Better not be retiring.” The offseason has been dramatic and disappointing for LeBron. If he had to give up on his hoop career, he would have done that when all the rumors suggested him landing back in Cleveland or Miami. Keep that what he will do next ringing in your mind.

Another fan speculated the same with a twist. They commented, “Y’all think he’s retiring soon or changing teams?! For some time now, there have been rumors about LeBron James joining forces with Stephen Curry at the Golden State Warriors. In fact, as per NBA insiders, the Warriors have made multiple efforts to trade for James in the last 18 months. Could Decision 2.0 be about the latest link-up between the two legends of the game? Again, that’s far-fetched. No one will pay $50million or more for a player who’s nearing retirement.

Yet another fan pointed out another hint that this could be the last season we see LeBron play. They commented, “Ohhh F—🤦‍♂️it’s year 23 for him to…..this might be it gang.” LeBron James has always said that the number 23 means a lot to him. He wore it as a tribute to his personal hero, Michael Jordan. And knowing how much ’23’ means to him, some fans have connected the dots that this might be it for LeBron.

The reactions weren’t just limited to fans. Popular sports broadcaster Kristen Ledlow also had a reaction that matched the sentiments all around his comments section. She replied, “I just — 😭” Just like Kristen, another fan seemed overcome with emotion. They commented, “I just shed a tear, please don’t go yet, I’m not ready.” Even before any kind of confirmations, the fans are already so emotional with the prospect of him leaving the NBA this year. This shows the impact he has had on the court and on the lives of people.

Love him or hate him, nobody can deny that LeBron James is one of the top two greatest players of all time. Sure, the debate about who is the GOAT has been ongoing for years and will most likely go on long after LeBron is retired. If he does decide to hang up his boots, then we’re sure that it will be a farewell tour to remember.

But for now, let’s just keep the suspense as it is for a few more hours.