LeBron Eyes Thunder Upset as Retirement Questions Grow Louder in Playoffs

Twenty-three years. And maybe counting down.

LeBron James helped the Lakers get past Houston in six games — 28 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds in the clincher. Now they face Oklahoma City: 64 wins, 18 losses, swept Phoenix in round one, went 4-0 against the Lakers in the regular season. The Lakers are 15.5-point underdogs for Game 1.

The retirement conversation has started. Dan Woike of The Athletic said he “wouldn’t be that surprised” if this was LeBron’s final season. The word he used was fatigue. Not physical. The kind that comes from 23 years of being the most watched, most talked-about player in basketball.

LeBron averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds this season. He’s still good enough. Still a problem for any defense. Still the reason the Lakers won a series.

But the Thunder are young, deep, and ferocious. And Luka Dončić — the one Laker who changes the series — is out with a hamstring strain. Game 1 is Tuesday night. Every possession could be part of the farewell tour.