LeBron James’ Decision: Four Possibilities for the Lakers Star’s Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Valdez | Last updated Oct 6, 2025 4:10 PM ET

Before four-time NBA MVP LeBron James went to the Los Angeles Lakers, he made a move that revolutionized the league.

On July 8, 2010, the Ohio native announced his plan to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat via an ESPN TV special titled "The Decision." His statement "I have decided to take my talents to South Beach" is one of the most iconic lines in NBA history.

James formed a "Big Three" in Miami with fellow All-NBA players Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. This ushered in a new era defined by "super teams," and the future Hall of Famer made eight straight trips to the NBA Finals.

Now, James will make a "Second Decision" on Tuesday via his social media.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) and son Bryce James.Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

"The decision of all decisions. October 7th. 12pm EST," the 40-year-old announced on Monday.

There are several possibilities for what "The Second Decision" could be. One is retiring after this year, as James will set the NBA record for seasons played (23) when Los Angeles hosts the Golden State Warriors to open its campaign on Oct. 21. The league's all-time scoring leader is also entering the final year of his contract, and he might not want to continue his career elsewhere given that his son Bronny James is also on the Lakers. However, he did say on Media Day that he's not thinking about retirement, via The Associated Press.

The announcement could also be an advertisement. James recently starred in a commercial for Amazon Prime Day, per Amazon's website, so it could be related to that. The former Rookie of the Year also has a tequila brand named Lobos 1707. On the other hand, he usually captions branded posts with "#ad," which he didn't do this time.

James could also be building hype for his new LeBron 23 sneakers ahead of the new NBA season. The "Miami Twice" colorway is expected to release on Thursday via Hypebeast.

The most unlikely possibility is James announcing a trade request. The original "Decision" was a landmark moment for player empowerment, as it influenced other players to do what's in their best interest rather than being obligated to stay with the team that drafted them. This could be a similar situation, with the 2003 No. 1 overall draft pick pressuring the Lakers to deal him to a team that he thinks he has a better chance of winning a title with.

The decision of all decisions. October 7th. 12pm EST. #TheSecondDecision pic.twitter.com/1uop8sIU25
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 6, 2025

LeBron James' Original "Decision" Changed NBA

Much has happened since the original "Decision." The 21-time All-NBA honoree won two titles in Miami before returning to Cleveland in 2014, teaming up with two more All-NBA players in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. The trio beat the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 Finals, who then signed fellow all-time great Kevin Durant, forming a "Big Four" with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The Warriors beat the Cavaliers in the next two Finals, and James signed with the Lakers in 2018.

Will "The Second Decision" be as consequential as the first?

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

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