If there’s anything we’ve grown to know about LeBron James, it’s that most public-facing things he does are calculated to some degree.
That has been evident during the stretches he's been a free agent more than anything. And while James has taken a non-committal approach to his upcoming availability, that doesn’t mean he’s privately unsure of what’s next for him.
Just about everything is on the table for James. He could renegotiate a deal with the Lakers that would keep him in Los Angeles, where he can play alongside Luka Doncic and with Bronny James. However, the Lakers as currently constructed are at risk of taking a step back from their fourth-place finish in the Western Conference standings this season.
If James also views the Lakers that way, he could try to land with a contender. His only title with the Lakers came during the pandemic-shortened season, and aside from that it has been 10 years since he’s won a championship. He could retire, as well. After all, James has played 23 years, and has little else to prove.
Whatever his decision will be, 97.1 The Fan’s Brock Vereen believes James’ mind is all made up.
“LeBron knows exactly what he’s going to do, and he’s earned the right to do that,” Vereen said. “He will spend most of the summer discussing retirement, what the next chapter looks like. You’ll hear about movies he’s producing and all this stuff, and then he’ll say, ‘I’m coming back for one more year,’ because there’s never been an athlete more calculated about their image, about their reputation.
“Over the 20-something years he’s been playing basketball on the big stage, really there’s been no missteps, and that’s not a coincidence. He’s incredibly calculated, and he really cares about his legacy. He deserves a farewell tour; he wants a farewell tour. I’m sure there’ll be a documentary and cameras following him. I doubt it will be in Los Angeles, but LeBron will be back for one more year.”
You can stay up to date on LeBron’s free agency saga beginning Monday with the debut of 97.1 The Fan, the first-ever FM all-sports station in Los Angeles. Here’s the full programming schedule:
6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. PT: “Derek & Decker” with Derek Fisher and Cody Decker
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PT: “Brock & Alex” with Brock Vereen and Alex Curry
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. PT: “D-Mac & Reiter” with Doug McKain and Bill Reiter
