2025-26 NBA Odds: Is LeBron James retiring?
LeBron James had the NBA world stirring after announcing he would be making the “decision of all decisions” on Tuesday.
Fans and reporters immediately speculated James would be announcing his retirement following the 2025-26 season, but he had something else on his mind.
Here’s what you need to know.
Make sure to check out Sports Interaction’s complete list of NBA game odds and NBA futures.
Decision of all decisions
LeBron’s latest decision wasn’t exactly as impactful as when he took his talents to South Beach. Turns out, it was an ad.
“This fall, I’m going to be taking my talents to Hennessy V.S.O.P,” James said in a clip Hennessy released on Tuesday.
Hennessy announced that it would be releasing a limited edition orange bottle featuring James’ name on the label.
Ticket prices for L.A.’s final regular season game in April exploded on the secondary market while fans still thought it could be James’ last game.
All-in-in, it was a complete bait and switch, but clearly it worked out for the Lakers and Hennessy.
LeBron James
Set to appear in his record 23rd NBA season, James has a long list of accolades as a four-time NBA champion while making it to the NBA Finals 10 times, including eight straight years between 2011 and 2018.
James, who has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers over his career, is one of the most decorated basketball players of all time, winning four regular season MVPs, four Finals MVPs, the inaugural NBA Cup MVP, three Olympic gold medals and an Olympic MVP in 2024.
He’s a record 21-time All Star and 21-time All-NBA selection, including a record 13 First Team selections. In addition, James has also made six All-Defensive teams and at 41-years-old, he is the oldest active player in the NBA and tied with Vince Carter for most seasons played. He’ll obviously break that Carter record this year.
James is clearly a first ballot Hall of Famer and while I’ll personally never view him as the GOAT over Michael Jordan, he has a case against anyone else.
L.A. Lakers odds
For the first time in his career, James isn’t the biggest driving force of his team’s success entering the season. That job belongs to last season’s trade addition, Luka Doncic. The Lakers are hoping this will be a passing of the torch season from one franchise player in James to the next franchise star in Doncic.
L.A. enters the year at +1400 to win the NBA championship. That’s great value considering the Lakers will surely add to an already talented roster that includes LeBron, Luka, Deandre Ayton, Austin Reaves and others.
Other futures to target include the Lakers to win the Western Conference (+850), the Lakers to win the Pacific Division (+150) and the Lakers to win the NBA Cup (+1600).
L.A.’s regular season win total is set at 48.5 after they finished last years with 50 wins.
