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Lakers rumors: Marc Stein drops revelation about LeBron James possibly playing 25 seasons
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- Lakers rumors: Marc Stein drops revelation about LeBron James possibly playing 25 seasons
Lakers rumors: Marc Stein drops revelation about LeBron James possibly playing 25 seasons appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Following a second-round sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder , former Lakers player and coach Byron Scott believes the organization must make the difficult decision to part ways with LeBron James .
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Scott argues that the partnership has "run its course" and that the Lakers should prioritize building around younger talents such as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves .
By allowing James to leave, Scott suggests the team could free up $50 million in cap space to pursue two additional superstars, a move he considers essential to compete with the rising, youth-driven depth of teams like San Antonio and Oklahoma City.
The discussion about how much longer James can physically compete has recently taken a more realistic turn.
While many fans and analysts speculated that LeBron might strive to become the first player in NBA history to play 25 seasons, insider Marc Stein has provided a revealing update to the contrary.
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Stein notes that, although he once considered that milestone feasible, two reputable league observers now believe that "one more season is the far smarter and safer forecast."
This shift in expectations reflects the physical realities of James' aging process, particularly the back and leg issues that hindered his offseason training last summer and resulted in him missing the first 14 games of the current season.
This sentiment is echoed by Hall of Famer Paul Pierce, who believes it is time for LeBron to retire , not necessarily due to a lack of skill, but to escape the relentless cycle of criticism.
Pierce points out that other legends like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan were allowed to enjoy their final moments without the burden of championship expectations, while James is still "critiqued like he's 25" at the age of 41.
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After witnessing a Lakers team that couldn't secure a single win against the defending champions, Pierce suggests that bowing out now would allow the all-time great to exit without further unnecessary scrutiny.
Related: Lakers rumors: NBA insiders think LeBron James should be paid whatever he wants, with caveats
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