Leaked LeBron James Video Has Him Saying When Wife Wants Him to Retire

James can be overheard explaining when his wife Savannah wants him to retire from the NBA in a new video.
James will play his 23rd NBA season in 2025-26
James will play his 23rd NBA season in 2025-26 / Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
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LeBron James will play his 23rd NBA season at 40 years old after picking up his contract option with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday ahead of free agency. It locks James into a $52.6 million salary for the 2025-26 season and ensures fans will enjoy The King for at least one more year.

How much longer after that, though, is very much up in the air. And a new leaked video reveals there are important people in James's life who want him to retire soon. Like his wife, Savannah.

According to ESPN, James was overheard in a viral video from earlier this week during a dinner in New York City saying Savannah James would prefer he retire in the next year.

"She wants me to f---ing retire in the next year or so," James can be heard saying.

At this stage in his career James has made it clear he's taking it year by year and his priorities are to win while also playing with his son, Bronny, the Lakers' second-round pick in the 2024 NBA draft. His decision to opt into his player option obviously shows he's going to play this upcoming season, but without an extension he won't be under contract at this time next year. At that point it is anybody's guess as to what will happen.

From the sounds of it his wife would prefer he hang up the sneakers sooner rather than later.


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Liam McKeone
LIAM MCKEONE

Liam McKeone is a senior writer for the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He has been in the industry as a content creator since 2017, and prior to joining SI in May 2024, McKeone worked for NBC Sports Boston and The Big Lead. In addition to his work as a writer, he has hosted the Press Pass Podcast covering sports media and The Big Stream covering pop culture. A graduate of Fordham University, he is always up for a good debate and enjoys loudly arguing about sports, rap music, books and video games. McKeone has been a member of the National Sports Media Association since 2020.