LeBron James urged to postpone retirement, but not for the Cavaliers or Lakers originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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LeBron James’ retirement will be a popular topic over the next few months.
The 41-year old NBA legend is in the final season of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. It could certainly make sense to call it quits after this season and end a career that has included historic moments with the Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
Or not.
James continues to outlast Father Time, and maybe he isn’t done yet.
And if he keeps playing, he’ll have his choice of destinations in free agency.
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The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor, a long-time New York columnist, has his own suggestion for the King: the New York Knicks.
O’Connor thinks that joining the Knicks would give James a chance to accomplish one more mega feat in his NBA career.
“In the East in ’27, assuming the Knicks don’t win it all this season, New York will be looking at 53 years without a championship,” O’Connor writes. “James can choose to attack that monumental challenge as his final NBA act.”
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O’Connor refers to a past James quote in which he says he’s “chasing the ghost” from Chicago, Michael Jordan.
This would be the way, O’Connor writes, to catch MJ.
“Actually, winning a fifth title with a fourth different franchise would offset LeBron’s six defeats in the Finals, suffered almost exclusively with inferior teams,” O’Connor writes. “And if that fourth franchise happened to be the team that Jordan refused to join, the Knicks, there would be no more challenges to conquer. And no more ghosts to chase. LeBron James would retire as the GOAT.”
James has always shown reverence for Madison Square Garden. Maybe he really is meant to suit up in the blue, orange and white before his career ends.
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