LeBron James is forty years old, and although he hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down, he certainly isn’t getting any younger.
After devastating news concerning an injury, a sciatica issue will force James to miss his first ever season-opener.
Combine this with a bunch of other uncontrollable factors, and Christopher Kline of Fansided predicts him to announce his retirement midway through the season.
“ LeBron doesn't need this anymore. And if the Lakers aren't going to reach the absolute peak of their competitive ceiling this season — and they won't with (Deandre) Ayton holding the defense together with string and Elmer's glue — why should LeBron keep running his body into the ground?,” Kline said Wednesday.
“He will realize this is it before the midway point of the season, announce his intention to retire, and spend the rest of his campaign both celebrating and pouring everything into one final push to the finish line.”
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Kline is predicting that the team, and specifically Deandre Ayton’s defense, will be enough to frustrate James into retirement.
This offseason, the Lakers signed Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia, along with Ayton.
Smart is obviously a former Defensive Player of the Year, but that won’t nearly be enough to hold together a defense, especially with all the injuries he has dealt with as of late.
As a matter of fact, both of the Lakers' supposed best defenders are cursed with injuries, the other being Jarred Vanderbilt.
Right now, the Lakers will stay competitive for as long as Luka Dončić is on the team.
That may not be enough for LeBron, and if the right dominoes fall, this could be his last season.
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