LeBron James Addresses NBA Retirement at the Beginning of 5th Documentary

Ten-part Netflix documentary series Starting from 5 which follows five basketball superstars as they navigate the 2023/2024 NBA season and focuses heavily on the career and possible future of LeBron James, The league’s longest-serving player and icon of the game. At 38 and about 39, James is undoubtedly at the tail end of a glittering career that spanned more than two decades and included four Larry O’Brien championship trophies. James’s place in basketball history is unquestioned and his form throughout the 23/24 season is evidenced by Starting from 5 and his many discoveries suggest he still has plenty left in the tank.

However, time stands still for no one and James’ departure is inevitable. Through Starting from 5 The Father of Three Drops hints that he is ready to sail into the sunsetbut then continues to insist on continuing his career with top-notch performances and his signature gladiator mentality. The key, he says, is preparation and commitment: “My dedication to my job is a big part of the reason I can play at this level.“Mike Mancias, James’ trainer, celebrates him”professionalism is the way he takes care of his body” as a key.

LeBron James says he may not reveal his plans to retire as a starter

James remains secretive about his future

More, V Starting from 5 James is uncharacteristically modest about his plans. In the eighth episode “I’m Here!” After the Lakers are eliminated and the season ends, he is asked if his career is over and he simply replies, “I’m not going to answer that question.” In the first episode of “Meet the Hoopers, Part 1,” as the NBA season stretched out before him, he seemed optimistic: “If I felt there was someone more suitable than me, I might have been able to sit out a little longer. I haven’t seen this yet.“This inner conflict in James constantly comes to the surface throughout Starting from 5 and is never properly addressed.

It is clear that James does not need basketball. Episode 9: Passing the Torch documentary names him the first active NBA player with a net worth of $1 billion, according to Forbes. James’ legal earnings only scratch the surface of his earning potential, with lucrative contracts with Nike, Coca-Cola and AT&T worth $80 billion annually. His lifetime contract with Nike alone is said to be worth over $1 billion. Smart investments in Blaze Pizza and production company SpringHill Entertainment are also filling the coffers. LeBron James is a box office draw both off and on the court.

What LeBron James Previously Said About Retiring from the NBA

James flirted with retiring before the 2024 Olympics

It was after the defeat in the Western Conference finals with a score of 22/23 that James first started talking about retiring…We’ll see what happens next, but I don’t know.– before announcing that he will be ready to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Since then, he has been playing cat and mouse with the basketball world. and if Starting from 5 intending to have the last word on LeBron James’ career, he failed miserably in this regard. The 6-foot-9 Akron native remains mysterious throughout the documentary.

Perhaps the touching scenes of James’ family vacation best reflect his intentions. James is nothing if not a family man and will be able to spend more time with his children once he retires. Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri. But even then, a contradiction arises: at the time of the documentary, Bronny’s college basketball career is thriving and a spot in the NBA beckons (in reality, Bronny will be selected 55th overall by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft). However, it is certain that James, having preserved his legacy, will eventually want to return home.

When will LeBron James retire from the NBA?

It’s clear LeBron James isn’t done yet

Despite Starting from 5It’s a mixed message, it seems clear that LeBron James isn’t done yet. The appeal of him and Bronny becoming the first ever father-son pair on an NBA team. seemed too strong to resist. Through Starting from 5 his constant dedication to training (he is estimated to spend $1.5 million annually just on keeping his body in shape) and being the best he can shines through and seems unwavering.

However, what is certain is that he enjoys constant speculation about his future and will continue to leave a trail of possible throughout the 2024/2025 NBA season. IN Starting from 5In the sixth episode “All Stars Baby”, he tells his locker room colleagues that when he finally decides to hang up his cleats, he won’t be making any big announcements: “I don’t tell anyone. I just won’t come to work the next day. Nobody will know.“