Charles Barkley Hopes LeBron James Retires ‘Sooner Rather Than Later’

Charles Barkley told ESPN Cleveland that he hopes LeBron James retires from the NBA “sooner rather than later.”

“I hope he retires while he can still play,” Barkley said. “I saw Michael Jordan with the Wizards and it was not pretty. I saw Patrick Ewing with the Orlando Magic. I would love to see him retire sooner rather than later because it ends badly when you keep on playing.”

According to Shams Charania, Jovan Buha and Sam Amick of The Athletic, LeBron is expected to play up to two more NBA seasons. The King can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2024-25 player option with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Coming off his 21st NBA season, LeBron James is expected to play up to two more NBA seasons, one source briefed on his thinking said,” Charania, Buha and Amick wrote. “He has a $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season. Two more seasons would take James through the 2026 All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.”

LeBron appeared in 71 games for the Lakers this season. He averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists while shooting 54.0% from the field, 41.0% from beyond the arc and 75.0% from the free-throw line. 

LeBron, who turns 40 in December, joined the Lakers in the summer of 2018. The NBA legend guided Los Angeles to the 2020 championship over the Miami Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble. 

Jordan averaged 21.2 points in 142 games with the Washington Wizards. While it wasn’t always pretty, and Washington missed the postseason both years, Jordan had a few vintage games. 

During the 2002-03 season, Jordan scored 43 points against the New Jersey Nets on February 21, 2003, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to drop 40-plus points. He was 40 years and four days old.

Jordan’s best game of the 2002-03 season took place on February 1, 2003. He torched the New Orleans Hornets for 45 points in 43 minutes while shooting 18-of-33 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. 

Jordan and LeBron are universally recognized as the two best players in NBA history. They have combined to win nine MVPs, 10 championships and 10 Finals MVPs.