Is LeBron James Really Retiring? The Truth About His “Decision”

by

LeBron James is not leaving the court. 

Following weeks of speculation and a promised announcement on October 7th, the 40-year-old athlete confirmed he’s still planning to play in the NBA. He also revealed the reason for the announcement was to share news about a continued partnership with Hennessy.

In an Instagram post on October 7th, LeBron James announced he’s partnering with Hennessy VSOP, explaining he believes it will give him the best chance to host events.

Born in Akron, Ohio, LeBron James started his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted him as the first overall pick in 2003. He was named NBA Rookie of the Year after his first season, the first of numerous awards he would receive during his seven years with the team.

I’ll never forget 2010! As a huge LeBron fan, it was shocking when he announced he was going to the Miami Heat. People were *livid* – I even saw videos of fans burning his jerseys! It was a crazy time. He played there for four seasons, and then thankfully, he came back home to the Cavaliers. He and Savannah are amazing parents to their three kids – Bronny, who’s 21, Bryce, 18, and little Zhuri, who’s 10 – and it’s been incredible watching their family grow.

Following four more years playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the four-time NBA champion moved to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. It was with the Lakers that he finally achieved a special goal: playing alongside his son, Bronny.

In 2024, he and his 21-year-old son became the first father and son to both play in an NBA game – and even play in the league at the same time.

The day before he announced his retirement, LeBron hinted at the news by posting a video online. The video showed him sitting down for an interview he called “The Second Decision,” a clear nod to a famous and debated 2010 interview with ESPN called *The Decision*, where he originally announced he was leaving Cleveland to play for Miami.

Last month, the star of *Space Jam: A New Legacy* dismissed talk about retiring and said he would announce his plans when he was ready.

He clarified on the September 18th episode of *360 With Speedy* that he wasn’t trying to suggest anything specific. He acknowledged he’s past the peak of his career, stating he definitely won’t be playing for another 23 years, or even another 10.

He added, “I’m definitely gearing up to where the end is, I’m not there yet.”

As a huge LeBron fan, I’ve been following his career closely, and while he’s still dominating on the court, it’s exciting to see him starting to explore opportunities beyond basketball. He’s already putting his energy into some really interesting projects, and I’m eager to see what he does next!

The LeBron James Family Foundation was created shortly after LeBron James was drafted first overall into the NBA in 2003. He joined the Cleveland Cavaliers, his hometown team, directly after graduating from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron.

As someone passionate about building strong communities, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact of investing in our young people. For years, this foundation has been doing just that – pouring resources into helping at-risk students stay in school and pursue higher education. But it doesn’t stop there; they also provide families with the support they need to be actively involved in their children’s learning journey. It’s about lifting up entire families and giving kids the tools to thrive.

In 2014, James told the Northeast Ohio Media Group that from the start of his foundation’s work, he aimed to create lasting impact, not just temporary projects. He wanted to empower people with something that would continue for generations, and he believes they’ve successfully achieved that goal.

At that point, over 800 students were on track to graduate thanks to the foundation’s I Promise program.

James launched the yearly King for Kids Bike-A-Thon in Akron to support local youth programs. His foundation’s Wheels for Education program provided children with bikes, and also donated backpacks and laptops to students beginning in third grade. The kids enjoyed riding with LeBron James and other NBA players, like Chris Paul, as seen in this photo from 2009.

Despite the criticism LeBron James and ESPN received for making his decision to join the Miami Heat a televised event, he donated $2.5 million earned from the broadcast to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a charity he’s supported in communities nationwide.

In 2015, LeBron James’ foundation partnered with the University of Akron to create a four-year scholarship for students in the I Promise program attending Akron public schools. This initiative, costing around $42 million, will cover tuition and standard school fees for all 1,100 students involved.

James explained at a Cedar Point event for kids, as reported by ESPN, that supporting students is his main motivation. He’s thrilled to help them achieve their goals and believes they’ll succeed with hard work, knowing college is within reach. He emphasized that they will need to work for it, but he’s excited to see what they accomplish.

The first class of scholarship recipients is on track to graduate in 2021.

This is incredibly meaningful to me because growing up in the city, like so many other Black kids, college just didn’t seem like a real option. We were focused on getting *through* high school, and honestly, rarely thought about what came after. It wasn’t necessarily a lack of dreams, but more that we didn’t see a path forward – either because it felt impossible, or because our families simply couldn’t afford to send us to college.

Bringing the Cavaliers their first NBA Championship in 2016 definitely boosted spirits in the city.

In 2016, LeBron James and his close friend and business partner, Maverick Carter, donated $2.5 million to support the Muhammad Ali: A Force for Change exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture when it opened on the National Mall.

James explained to USA Today that Muhammad Ali deeply influenced him as an athlete, not just because of his boxing success, but even more because of his principles and courage. He said he thinks about Ali daily and believes he wouldn’t be where he is today without Ali’s inspiration and strong values.

The exhibit also received significant contributions from Michael Jordan, who donated $5 million, and Magic Johnson, who gave $1 million.

In December 2014, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving wore “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirts—sent to them by Jarrett Jack of the Brooklyn Nets—to protest the death of Eric Garner, who died after being put in a chokehold by a New York City police officer. This act was a significant moment for LeBron, signaling a shift towards more openly and directly addressing issues of race and police brutality.

Before the home game against the Cavaliers, Jack, along with teammates Kevin Garnett, Deron Williams, and Alan Anderson, all wore shirts during warm-ups. Soon after, other players around the league, including Derrick Rose and Kobe Bryant, were also seen wearing the same shirts.

Before the game, Kyrie Irving spoke to reporters, emphasizing the need to support the affected families. He added that being in the city where the tragedy occurred made it even more important for the team to show their support for this cause, as it deeply resonated with him and many others.

James mentioned he might wear the shirt during the game, calling it a possibility. When asked about the meaning behind it, he explained he wasn’t sure it needed to be ‘figured out,’ but rather ‘understood’ in the context of current societal issues. He said he’d been learning about what was happening and wanted to show support, primarily for those directly affected. He emphasized the need for society to improve and support each other regardless of race, stating his gesture was mainly a message of encouragement to those families who needed it most.

LeBron James is popular with children around the world. In 2014, he spent time with young fans and their fathers at an event in Hong Kong.

In 2015, NBA stars Stephen and James Curry made a visit to the High School of Graphic Communication Arts in New York City. They were there as part of NBA FIT, a league initiative designed to encourage healthy lifestyles – both physically and mentally – for basketball fans of all ages.

In 2016, James publicly supported Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, speaking at a rally in Cleveland just before the election.

In July 2018, the LeBron James Family Fund and the Akron Public School District opened the I Promise School. This school is designed to provide students in grades 1 through 8 with a modern, high-quality education, along with important resources like healthcare and other essential services.

Although the school is supported by taxpayer money, a foundation donates over $1 million annually to enhance the learning experience. This funding helps pay teacher salaries, keep class sizes small at 20 students or less, and provide valuable after-school programs, tutoring, and other family resources.

The I Promise Network currently supports students through 11th grade and plans to expand its services to include 12th grade by the 2020-21 school year.

When schools closed nationwide due to COVID-19, the foundation kept the I Promise Family Resource Center open to provide essential services like healthcare, mental health support, food, and housing.

The school partnered with Smuckers and the Akron Food Bank to create and distribute care packages containing food, toothpaste, and toilet paper to all 1,443 students and their families. Starting in March, they also began offering “Taco Tuesdays,” providing meal kits that could feed four to five people for each of the school’s 340 students.

In 2018, LeBron James received the NBA Cares Community Assist Award, recognizing his commitment to helping children in his hometown and finishing off a successful year.

Honestly, being able to help the kids back home in Akron – the ones who might not have a chance otherwise – means the world to me. It’s personal, you know? I *was* one of those kids. That’s why I’m so incredibly proud and excited to be building this school, giving these students the resources they need to get an education that will truly change their lives. I want to give them a future they deserve, a better one than I almost didn’t get.

Read More

2025-10-07 20:18