Home

NBA

Unsure About Retirement, LeBron James Touted to Surpass MJ as “The Most Celebrated” Athlete

Published 02/26/2024, 12:18 PM EST

Follow Us

via Imago

LeBron James may be in over 2 decades of playing for the NBA, having the greatest career among his peers, but eventually, all good things do come to an end. The pinnacle of his career, the twilight that has brought him to a juncture where he’s 39 now, and as difficult as it may be to accept, he only has a few good years left to churn out! Post that, he will one day be playing his final NBA game right in front of us and leave the hardwood floor entirely.

But whether that time comes in one year or a few, there’s one thing King James isn’t sure about – as claimed during the All-Star Weekend, he’s unsure of how he will retire – quietly or with a bang! Exploring this idea are many debates online, discussing whether James will go out with a grand tour or leave quietly without making a huge fuss as Tim Duncan did. American rapper Ma$e feels that Bron might just go ahead with the biggest retirement tour yet.

LeBron might take two retirement tours

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Speaking on the “It Is What It Is” show, Ma$e is confident that the NBA can’t send off the Akron Hammer without giving him a majestic tour. He says, “LeBron might have the most celebrated retirement tour. I think his retirement tour is gonna be bigger than even Jordan’s was.” Moreover, he contests that the league gives “everybody their flowers“, even those who do not deserve it, so it is only fitting that LeBron be celebrated on the highest level for what he has done for the game of basketball.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Ma$e doesn’t see Bron passing up on this opportunity either. Hilariously, he also adds that the 4X NBA Champion might have two retirement tours. “He’s going everywhere probably twice. He’s gonna go everywhere once and then say, ‘My bad I’m not retiring.’ He gonna play with his son and get two retirement tours,” the rapper says.

While LeBron expressed his uncertainty about the tour, WNBA legend Sue Bird could not refrain from pushing Bron to take it up. “I cannot recommend this enough. If I talked to LeBron right now, I’d be like ‘Bro, I could not recommend this enough,'” she said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Is LeBron James more celebrated than MJ?

By now, we have come to terms with the reality that the LeBron vs MJ GOAT debate will never see the day of light. They each played on teams that were entirely different, as were the rules, era, and competition. So now we start looking at other things. LeBron could break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record to become the league’s leading scorer, something MJ could not achieve. Let us also not forget that LeBron led three different teams to their Championships and has played more seasons than MJ.

The hype around Bron started during his high school days, when people would flock just to get a glimpse of him playing. Even before he entered the NBA, he was touted to be one of the greatest that the league has seen. And through the years, he stayed true to these expectations. Coming in as a young player and being able to live up to tons of expectations is what made him a favorite among the fans. This should be the sole reason King James is as celebrated as he is today, for some, possibly even more than MJ.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Will LeBron be wrong for wanting to sit out of the retirement tour? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

“Can Be Popular But Not…Important”: LeBron James’ Agent Blueprints the Arrival of NBA’s “New Face”

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Tsuktibenla T Jamir

395Articles

One take at a time

Tsuktibenla is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports, whose love affair with basketball began at the age of 16, sparking a passion that has kept her actively playing ever since. Representing her school and college in various tournaments, she earned the title of MVP in several instances despite contending with multiple injuries. A graduate in English Literature, she pursued a Master's in Journalism to solidify her place in sports journalism.
Show More>

Edited by:

Saumya Khanduja