JANUARY 2026: NEW RETIREMENT REPORTS EMERGE AS LEBRON JAMES NEARS 41ST BIRTHDAY MILESTONES
Lakers insider Dave McMenamin reveals the key signs that LeBron James is retiring. From golf to contracts, see why the end is near.
LeBron James is playing his 23rd season in the NBA, which is a record, and he's turning 41 soon. But a new report says he might retire sooner rather than later, which would wrap up his crazy career.
The Lakers star is showing his age. His last game showed he can still play well, but the end is coming.
When asked if this is James's last season, Lakers insider Dave McMenamin was blunt.
Just look around. James is in the last year of his contract. His friend and agent, Rich Paul from Klutch Sports, told ESPN over the summer that James didn't want to extend his contract with the Lakers, McMenamin wrote. He might only have 50 or so regular season games left.
If this is his final year, James is averaging 20.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in 14 games. These are some of his lowest numbers in the first nine weeks of an NBA season.
LeBron James Might Retire Soon
The insider shared a few key reasons that could mean James is about to retire, some more obvious than others.
First, James picked up his player option with the Lakers this year. This made people think he'll be a free agent at the end of the season. Also, Paul's interview with Shams Charania after James picked up his option felt like a goodbye letter to the Los Angeles team.
McMenamin also said James is getting more into golf, which could mean he's thinking about retiring. Lots of athletes pick up golf later in their careers. James's posting and talking about golf more could mean he's ready to make it a priority once he's done with his current job.
Last week, he said he couldn't talk about Jazz guard Keyonte George's All-Star chances because he's been watching too much golf on YouTube, the insider wrote. He also said he's ready to be home with his family instead of playing on Christmas Day.
He also mentioned that James seems to be 'stopping to smell the roses,' like when he praised Toronto and Philadelphia. This might mean he's enjoying what could be his last trips to certain NBA cities.
We've also seen James stop and enjoy things, like when he posted how much he loves Toronto after the Lakers played there, and when he talked about how much he'll miss loud arenas after the Lakers played in Philadelphia, McMenamin added.
LeBron James vs. 'Father Time'
All these things are hard to measure, but James himself talked about fighting 'Father Time,' who beats every NBA player eventually, except for James so far.
I remember, like LeBron 20 or 21, when I did that Father Time commercial? James told reporters after the Lakers beat the Kings. I'm fighting him. And I think I'm winning.
Another golf joke!
When asked about when he'll retire, James hasn't said much. He hasn't ruled out playing a few more seasons, but he's said a few times that the end is near.
"I know I'm getting old," James said in an interview with Complex. I'm not playing another 23 years, for sure, and I'm not playing another 10. I'm getting ready for the end, but I'm not there yet.
If this is his last season, when James announces it, it'll be the biggest story in the league until the Lakers play their last game, whether it's in the regular season or the playoffs.
DEXTER LAWRENCE TRADE REQUEST LOOMS OVER GIANTS' PREPARATIONS FOR PITTSBURGH NFL DRAFT
Dexter Lawrence wants out! Discover why the Giants are considering a trade before the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
The New York Giants might have no choice but to trade Dexter Lawrence before the NFL Draft. Negotiations on a new contract with the star defender have hit a wall, and Lawrence already asked for a trade earlier this month. He's skipped the team’s first offseason practices under new head coach John Harbaugh, which hasn’t helped matters.
At this point, the Giants have been talking with several teams about a possible deal for Lawrence. With the draft coming up in Pittsburgh next week, the pressure is on. They need picks, and right now they only hold two selections in the top 100. Harbaugh’s trying to breathe new life into the roster, but he needs more draft capital to do it.
News of the stalled negotiations came just hours after GM Joe Schoen sounded pretty upbeat, saying talks had been "productive". He explained that he, Harbaugh, and senior VP Dawn Aponte were all in regular contact with Lawrence’s reps, looking for some kind of resolution. Schoen insisted they want Dexter to stay, but he admitted it’s out of their hands now. They’ll just have to see what happens.
Lawrence, 28, signed a four-year, $90 million extension last year. Since then, defensive contracts have exploded, so his deal has dropped to just 11th among league defenders. On top of that, the team’s shaken up its roster, letting go of many Lawrence’s close teammates like Saquon Barkley.
Lawrence has been with the Giants since they drafted him 17th overall in 2019. He’s played his whole seven-year career in New York, earning three trips to the Pro Bowl and two second-team All-Pro honours. His career stats include 30.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and an interception. But last year wasn’t great; he only managed half a sack, eight QB hits, and a pass rush win rate of 8.3 per cent for a team that finished 4-13. It’s hard to tell if he’ll stay with the Giants much longer.
RORY MCILROY TARGETS SEVENTH MAJOR AT ARONIMINK FOLLOWING EMOTIONAL MASTERS DEFENSE
No long break for Rory McIlroy! After his 6th major win, McIlroy eyes the PGA Championship at Aronimink this May.
Rory McIlroy isn’t following the same script after this Masters win. When reporters asked if he’d take another long break, as he did in 2025, Rory had a different plan in mind.
He’s not disappearing for months this time. Instead, he’s taking a couple of weeks off before jumping back into PGA Tour action. The next big event on the calendar is the PGA Championship, starting May 14 at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, but it sounds like Rory wants to get some tournament play before then.
He talked about his mindset shift after winning again at Augusta. “My schedule’s going to be different this year,” he said on April 13. “Last year, I thought winning the Grand Slam would be the destination. But actually, it’s just part of the ride. Now that I’ve won my sixth major, I feel great about my game and my body.
“I waited ages to win the Masters, and then I won two in a row. I definitely want to enjoy this. I’ll take a couple weeks off, but I don’t think I’ll hit that motivation lull I felt last year after the win.”
So, what comes next for Rory? He’s skipping the RBC Heritage this week, and his appearance at the Zurich Classic isn’t confirmed either.
Then, there’s Donald Trump, who might’ve let the cat out of the bag. After congratulating Rory on social media, Trump said he was looking forward to watching him at Doral during the Cadillac Championship on April 30. That’s not an official confirmation, but it’s a pretty solid clue that Rory’s next start could be there.
Now that he’s up to six majors and finally has back-to-back Masters titles, Rory’s thinking ahead. The next big stop? The PGA Championship, where he’ll chase number seven. But he’s not feeling satisfied just yet.
“I don’t want to put a hard number on it, but this is just part of the journey,” he said. “I’ve still got things I want to accomplish even as I make sure I enjoy the moment, too.”