Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has something he wants you to know -- but whether you actually want to know it isn't clear.
The NBA legend posted a cryptic teaser of an Oct. 7 announcement on X on Monday, calling it "the decision of all decisions." Included in the post is a 10-second video of James sitting down on a basketball court across from another man, in a style that mirrors James' infamous 2010 announcement that he was joining the Miami Heat.
As if the parallels weren't clear enough, James labeled the announcement, "#TheSecondDecision."
Is James announcing that the upcoming season will be his last, or was this just an elaborate way to get fans' attention? Here's what you need to know about the "second decision."
MORE: Key stats in the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan 'GOAT' debate
Is LeBron James retiring?
There's no doubt James wants people to believe his Tuesday announcement could be a retirement announcement. After all, James has floated the idea that he could exit the NBA in the near future plenty of times, even saying in recent days that he "has his own timeline" for retirement that might not line up with his son Bryce's timeline to potentially turn professional.
It's worth keeping in mind, though, that James is the king of cryptic posts. Whether it's taking a veiled shot at a teammate or sending a not-so-subtle to his front office, James knows how to generate buzz without anything actually coming of it.
James used the possibility of a retirement announcement for an ad campaign in June when he sent this tweet:
I’ve been asking myself the same question… 🤔👑 #ad pic.twitter.com/ieSG62C7cA
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 14, 2025
Of course, nothing came of it, though the tweet did include the "ad" hashtag. James' tweet on Monday did not.
Retirement isn't far off for James, who is about to play an NBA-record 23rd season, but his history of cryptic posts and a couple of coincidental events on Tuesday mean the teaser should be met with skepticism. Here's more to know about the announcement.
MORE: 13 most devastating injuries in NBA playoffs history
LeBron James 'Second Decision' updates
This section will be updated with new information.
James is set to release his "second decision" at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday. At this time, it isn't clear what James is planning or who the man in the video with him might be.
What is LeBron James' 'Second Decision'?
There is a strong possibility James is set to announce something other than retirement on Tuesday, if history is any indication.
James is an active businessman, between sponsorship deals and ventures of his own. He could be setting the stage for an ad campaign, or he could be preparing to launch another business venture.
If the date is intentional, Oct. 7 is notably both National Taco Day and the start of Amazon Prime Big Deal Days. James was featured in Taco Bell ads earlier in 2025 and once tried to trademark the phrase "Taco Tuesday." He has also been featured in Amazon Prime ads.
If you are anticipating a retirement announcement from James on Tuesday, keep expectations low.
MORE: Ranking the 15 worst NBA free agency contracts of all time
Revisiting LeBron James' 'The Decision'
James infamously announced his highly anticipated free agent decision to join the Heat with an hour-long ESPN special in 2010.
Coming on the eighth day of free agency, James sat across from ESPN host Jim Gray and was questioned on his process, the decision and how difficult it was to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers. James received criticism for the fanfare surrounding the announcement, which wasn't made until 28 minutes into the special.
Among his critics was Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who famously released a scathing letter in Comic Sans font. Gilbert welcomed James back to the Cavaliers four years later.
James said later in 2010 that he regretted how he went about the decision. "If I had to go back on it, I probably would do it a little bit different," he said. James announced his 2014 decision to return to Cleveland with a Sports Illustrated article, and his agency simply tweeted his decision to sign with the Lakers in 2018.
MORE: The story behind LeBron James' 2010 'The Decision'
How to watch LeBron James' 'Second Decision'
James hasn't revealed where to watch his "second decision," which likely means it will be released exactly where the teaser was released: X, formerly known as Twitter. James did say the announcement will be made on Tuesday at 12 p.m. ET.
James is an active X and Instagram user, so fans will want to keep an eye on his social media accounts unless he says otherwise.