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LeBron James Considers Retiring Soon Because of 7-Foot-3 NBA All-Star

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Eric Nacach | Last updated Jun 21, 2025 5:02 PM ET

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is entering his 23rd season in the NBA. The former No. 1 overall pick is coming off a season averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game.

James and the Lakers made a first-round playoff appearance before being eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games.

On Saturday, Fanatics hosted its second annual “Fanatics Fest” in New York City, a three-day sports festival where fans get to interact with professional athletes across sports leagues.

NBA players such as LeBron James, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant and San Antonio Spurs rising star Victor Wembanyama were among the many who attended Fanatics Fest.

During the event, James spoke about Wembanyama, praising his elite shot-blocking ability while admitting how frustrating it can be to go up against.

"I can't play that much further, and the more and more time that I play, as long as he keeps smacking my (expletive) shots into the stands, it's going to make me retire," said James.

In his sophomore season, Victor Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game before being ruled out for the remainder of the year due to a blood clot in his right shoulder.

Despite only playing 42 games, the Spurs' big man led the league in total blocks with 176 (via ESPN).

Wembanyama also received the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year award, getting all 99 first-place votes, making him the first unanimous winner since 2016.

He also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting as a rookie.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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