Lakers News: Expert Advises Fans On Handling Possible LeBron James Retirement
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Los Angeles Lakers superstar small forward LeBron James, even in his 20th NBA season, enjoyed a pretty stellar regular season and playoffs. After getting swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, James floated the possibility of actually retiring from the league this summer, even with $97.1 million left in salary money across the next two seasons.
Across his 55 healthy games this season, James averaged 28.9 points on 50% shooting fro the floor, 8.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 0.9 steals for the 43-39 Lakers this season. For his efforts, he was named to his 19th All-Star and All-NBA seasons.
During the playoffs, James averaged 24.5 points on 49.8% shooting from the field, 9.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks. He cranked up his defensive effort (as the 38-year-old is wont to do in the postseason these days), but was a bit more deferential when it came to his fourth quarter scoring. His long range shooting also took a dip. Despite James stubbornly attempting 6.6 triples a night, he made just 26.4% of those three-pointers.
The Ringer's Seerat Sohi, an avowed LBJ fan, has very helpfully laid out her own 10 stages of coping with his hypothetical retirement, should it actually come to pass.
Among other issues, Sohi notes that the future first ballot Hall of Famer accomplished more than enough over the course of his career to leave hoops heads satisfied, having won four championships (in 10 Finals) and four MVPs, that his body has been breaking down a lot more than it did in his athletic prime, that he might opt to take a season off and then un-retire so he can suit up alongside impending USC freshman Bronny James in the NBA, and that all the years of deep playoff runs could be taking their physical toll.
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