Ever since LeBron James refused to take a pay cut and chose to earn over $50 million for the 2025-26 season, and the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office decided to publicly advocate for Luka Doncic as the new face of their franchise, speculations have been swirling about whether this could be King James’ final season in Hollywood.
Moreover, with the bar of competition also rapidly rising in the West, many believe the four-time MVP could retire elsewhere. However, to seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry, such rumors are completely absurd and impractical.
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Additionally, Horry believes that instead of entertaining the idea of another relocation, fans should focus on how much another move could potentially hurt James’ GOAT candidacy.
Horry buries speculations of LBJ retiring elsewhere
Through his two-decade-long career, LBJ has achieved something that few players in NBA history could even dream of – winning a championship with three different franchises, and with three different superstar partners. Whether it was Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, or Anthony Davis, James adjusted his game enough to be able to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy with each one of them.
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And now, with him sharing the court with Luka, James has the opportunity to capture his fifth title alongside another generational talent, which adds immense value to his GOAT candidature.
That is why Horry finds it ridiculous that fans believe LeBron would want to chase destinations in the last stretches of his career.
Furthermore, beyond the basketball implications, a move to uproot his entire family from Los Angeles will only disrupt his family further, especially since his business empire has been established in Hollywood for years. Thus, remaining in LA is not just a practical choice, it’s a legacy-preserving one.
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“It’s a stupid question. What I mean by that is: sometimes you forget how much money LeBron makes, and you just can’t say, ‘Alright, LeBron, we’re gonna ship you off,’ ‘cause nobody can afford him. That’s number one. And then number two: I don’t think he’s going anywhere just because his daughter is doing good here, his wife is doing good here, he is really close to his other son playing in Arizona,” Horry said on the recent episode of Big Shot Bob podcast.
“I don’t think he’s going anywhere, and he’s going to end his career here because think about this, we talk about all these great players that moved a lot, if LeBron moves again, that’s too many teams for him and his legacy.”
LeBron will retire as a Laker
Even though there has been plenty of chatter about the Lakers designating Luka as the franchise’s primary face going forward, LeBron reportedly isn’t bothered by the shift in hierarchy. In fact, he has long expressed his desire for a younger star to step up and shoulder that responsibility, allowing him to focus more on guiding the team toward another championship.
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This arrangement could also help him manage his minutes and workload, ensuring that his impact remains as efficient as ever in the twilight of his career.
Lately, with his close relationship with Rob Pelinka and the organization’s leadership, he will always be treated with the utmost respect. That mutual trust and admiration only make it more likely that he will finish his career as a Purple and Gold, especially when he has given so much to the organization over the last several years, in terms of relevance.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 4, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
