LeBron James Reveals Key Reason Behind Retirement Decision After Family Member’s Role in Future Plan Emerge

There are certain things—aspects in life—that can only be described in one way: a drug. Completely and helplessly addictive! And for an athlete who has done it all and seen it all, what could be that ultimate drug? You might actually be surprised to hear LeBron James’ answer to that.

Just one word: playoffs. If I could insert the crickets chirping audio here, I would. Since that’s not possible, let’s hear what the Lakers superstar has to say more about this. At 40 years old, in his 22nd season, LeBron is still playing at an All-NBA level. And it’s the postseason that keeps him coming back for more. And in the latest episode of Mind the Game, he admitted as much to Steve Nash.

“I mean, the regular season is fun. It’s cool. Alright. But I just only care about playoffs… it’s definitely a drug, for sure,” he told Nash.

Can you blame him?

The postseason brings with it something the regular season never quite can. The hype, the drama, the stakes, they’re all at a fever pitch in the spring. And evidently, players like LeBron come ready to leave it all out there on the court for championship glory. And that only lends to the excitement because it simply means that anything can happen. We’ve seen a 73-9 regular Warriors team beaten by LeBron’s Cavs. We saw an 8th-seeded Miami Heat reach the NBA finals, and so much more, all in the past decade or so.

The playoffs are where “anything can happen” is a promise, not a possibility. And once again, LeBron is in the thick of it—this time with his new running mate, Luka Dončić. But as things heat up on the court, there’s also buzz off it. Because while the thrill of the playoffs fuels his present, it’s family—and one rising James in particular—that could define his future.

Ex-ESPN employee reveals why Bryce James’ career could decide LeBron James’ Lakers future

Just a few days ago, Bryce James, LeBron’s youngest son, revealed that he’d committed to playing college ball for the Arizona Wildcats. His parents seemed super proud of the next step in their son’s basketball career. However, this development led to another question forming in many people’s heads. “Will Bryce join his brother and father at the Lakers to form the first-ever father-sons trio?”  

That dream might be closer than you think.

Thanks to veteran journalist Rachel Nichols, we now have some insight. In a segment for Sports Illustrated, Nichols spilled the tea: “All of a sudden, Savannah James said that she wants LeBron to play through when Bryce is in the league. So, that’s not next season, where he will be at Arizona, it’s the season after that,” revealed Nichols about the timeline of when we could see it happen.

You see, under the current rules, Bryce will be ineligible for the NBA Draft till a year after his high school graduation. That makes the 2026 NBA Draft his earliest shot at going pro. And that’s the big question: Can LeBron hang on till then? According to Nichols, it seems that’s not just wishful thinking.

USA Today via Reuters

There’s a very real possibility LeBron could stretch his career that far, largely thanks to the depth and support around him. “LeBron’s window has now been extended, because LeBron for the first time in his entire career, can lay back for the first three quarters of these playoff games if he needs to and let Austin Reaves and Luka go and show up in the fourth the way he does, anchoring the defense, the way he cannot do for four quarters anymore—but can do for the fourth, if he’s rested.”

It’s a different phase of his game, but still an impactful one. A smarter one. And if this trend continues, we just might witness history: the first-ever father-and-sons trio in NBA history. It sounds like a fantasy trade machine scenario, but with LeBron, you never rule anything out.

For now, he hasn’t officially confirmed any of this. So, take the speculation with a grain of salt. But the groundwork is being laid. And the rest? That’s up to LeBron.

Ball’s in your court, King.