LeBron James' former teammate urges him to join Knicks or Cavaliers

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

LeBron James' former teammate urges him to join Knicks or Cavaliers

By Anne Erickson | Last updated May 21, 2026 7:38 PM ET

The moment the Los Angeles Lakers fell out of the Western Conference semifinals, the LeBron James retirement talk started.

Are you surprised? Each year at this point, people can't help but wonder if James is going to call it quits. At 41 years old, he's the oldest active player in the NBA, so it makes sense that he would want to retire at any moment.

But, James wasn't playing in the NBA playoffs like a player who's ready to retire. He led the Lakers in scoring (23.2 PPG) and assists (7.3 APG) during their postseason run.

Now, a former James teammate thinks he knows exactly when James will hang up the towel for good.

LeBron James' ex-teammate Kendrick Perkins projects the King's retirement and where he could play

James' former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Kendrick Perkins discussed the King's retirement during an episode of "The Pat McAfee Show" on Thursday.

He made it clear that he truly doesn't think James will retire after the upcoming season.

"I don't think he retires after next year to be honest," he said.

"I would love to see LeBron James go back to where it all started in Cleveland..

I don't think he retires after next year to be honest"@KendrickPerkins #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/83evhCy4ZD
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 21, 2026

But, Perkins said that if this does happen to be James' last year, he would "love to see LeBron in New York in a Knicks uniform. That would be so legendary."

If not the Knicks, Perkins would also like to see James end his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he began his legacy.

"I would love to see him, really, go back home where it all started," Perkins said. "I think it would be a perfect ending."

It's hard to see James in a Knicks or Cavs uniform at this point in his career, frankly. Stranger things have happened, but if he ends up back with the Lakers for one more season, or a few more seasons, that won't be a surprise, considering he's become such a big part of that franchise.

Anne Erickson

Anne Erickson is an award-winning news reporter covering the NFL, NBA, college sports and more for Yardbarker. Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and other sports, and her work has been published by Fox Sports, ESPN and Newsweek, among others. She has also interviewed a bevy of big names in sports and entertainment, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Lions edge Aidan Hutchinson and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott

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