Adam Silver Hints at LeBron James' Return Next Season

NBA Commissioner indicates the Lakers star is expected to play in 2023-24 despite retirement speculation.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:54pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the motion and energy of a basketball game, with sharp lines and planes representing the action on the court.A cubist interpretation of LeBron James' continued dominance on the basketball court, even at 41 years old.Houston Today

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the retirement speculation around Lakers star LeBron James, indicating that the 41-year-old is expected to return for the 2023-24 season. Silver noted he has not spoken directly to James, but believes the 23-year veteran still has more basketball left to play despite his advanced age.

Why it matters

LeBron James is one of the most iconic and influential players in NBA history, and his potential retirement would be a major storyline for the league. Silver's comments suggest the league is anticipating James to continue playing, which would be a boost for the Lakers as they look to build around the aging superstar and young stars like Luka Doncic.

The details

James, who is 41 and in his 23rd NBA season, has continued to defy Father Time, averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists this past season. With the Lakers dealing with injuries to Doncic and Austin Reaves, James has stepped up his production in the playoffs, recording several triple-doubles to carry the team. Despite his advanced age, James has shown no signs of slowing down and appears poised to return for at least one more season.

  • LeBron James missed the first 14 games of the 2022-23 season due to a sciatica injury.
  • In the final four games of the regular season, James averaged 28.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 12.5 assists per game.

The players

Adam Silver

The current Commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA), who has held the position since 2014.

LeBron James

A 41-year-old NBA superstar who is currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in his 23rd professional season.

Luka Doncic

A young star player for the Lakers who missed time late in the season due to a hamstring injury.

Austin Reaves

A Lakers player who missed time late in the season with a Grade 2 oblique strain.

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What they’re saying

“You know, I want LeBron to play as long as he actually wants to play. I mean, he's not just a 41-year-old player in the league with the most points ever in so many different categories, but he's still...”

— Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner

What’s next

The Lakers will face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs, with Game 1 tipping off today. LeBron James will be relied upon heavily with Doncic and Reaves sidelined by injuries.

The takeaway

Despite his advanced age, LeBron James continues to defy expectations and remains one of the NBA's most dominant players. Commissioner Silver's comments suggest the league expects James to return for at least one more season, which would be a boost for the Lakers as they look to build a contender around the future Hall of Famer.