The Los Angeles Lakers are up for elimination in the 2025 NBA playoffs if they don’t secure a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight. As the team fights to stay in the mix, fans are wondering if LeBron James is ready to take a permanent leave of absence.
It’s been heavily speculated in recent years that the 40-year-old is gearing up for retirement. While speaking on the “Pat McAfee Show”, James hinted at what it would take for him to step back.
"For me, it's about my mind. I'm all about the process. If it gets to the point where I don't feel like showing up to the arena five hours in advance. Or I don't feel like training. Or I don't feel like studying the scout sheet of guys,” he explained in March 2025. “If it gets to that point, I'll know, 'You know what, Bron, that's a wrap.’”
As the four-time NBA Champion gears up for Game 5, fans are hesitant as to the outcome of the match. As of today, the Timberwolves have taken a 3-1 advantage against the Lakers in their best-of-seven series.
As tensions rise, fans shouldn’t be all too worried as this isn’t the first time James has found himself in a difficult playoffs.
While the basketball star was signed with the Miami Heat in 2012, he faced off in a “exhausting” series during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics.
"For us to be able to go in there in Game 6, and we know what happened in Game 6, and for us to be able to come back to South Beach and win a Game 7... they just brought so much out of you …,” he shared on the “Mind the Game” podcast in March 2025.
That series was monumental for James’ career as he eventually went on to win his first NBA Championship.
With the 2025 NBA Playoffs game set to start at 7:00 PM (PT) tonight, one thing is for certain — both teams won’t be going down without a fight.
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