LeBron James addresses retirement speculation ahead of ASG

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

LeBron James addresses retirement speculation ahead of All-Star Game

By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Feb 15, 2026 4:18 PM ET

LeBron James keeps proving that 41 is just a number on a roster sheet.

Going into his 23rd NBA season, James hadn't slowed down enough for anyone to stop paying attention. He is not filling some kind of elder statesman role. He is still starting, still producing and still making younger defenders look bad on a nightly basis.

He's been straightforward about the fact that his body does not bounce back the way it used to. Recovery looks different now. Preparation has changed. But none of that has put him anywhere close to retirement territory. Before the 2026 All-Star Game, the questions came around again. His answer was not exactly what many in the room would have expected.

"I want to live. When I know, you guys will know. I don't know. I have no idea. I just want to live. That's all."

No retirement date and no promise to keep going, either. The whole debate stays wide open, even as the questions get louder every few months.

LeBron on playing next year:

"I want to live. When i know you guys will know. I have no idea. I just want to live, thats all" pic.twitter.com/LA8VjAFEwG
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) February 15, 2026

LeBron James still producing as Lakers look to future

Sunday marks his 22nd All-Star appearance, a record that was already his and keeps growing. He is sharing the floor with Luka Doncic this season, which has changed how the Los Angeles Lakers operate, but James is still carrying his weight. He missed some time early in the year and has played in 36 games. The Lakers sit at 33-21 in the Western Conference and have taken six of their last 10.

Some critics think the organization should move James and hand the future entirely to Doncic. The stats do not really support the idea that he's a liability. James is putting up 22 points per game on 50.2 percent shooting with 7.1 assists and 5.8 rebounds. Those numbers hold up for any starter in the league, let alone someone in Year 23.

The all-time leading scorer is not pretending the finish line isn't out there somewhere. It is just that nobody, including James, knows exactly where it is.

Yagya Bhargava

Yagya Bhargava began his professional journey as a chef, but his passion for sports eventually led him into sports journalism. He started writing in 2022 and has since published more than 5,000 articles covering the NFL and NBA. Along the way, he’s worked with outlets like The Cold Wire, Sportskeeda, The SportsRush, and The Big Lead

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