Should Lebron James Retire?

Opinion by: Kyle Shien (Grade 12)

Every time LeBron James has a quiet game, the entire internet turns into Sherlock Holmes. One missed layup, and everyone’s like “yeah, he's done” as if they didn’t watch the last twenty years of domination he had in the league. These are the same people who get winded walking to the fridge. 

People keep asking the same tired question. Is LeBron James finally going to retire? Meanwhile, this man is 41 years old and still victimizing professional athletes who were learning to tie their shoes when he won his first ring. Some of the guys guarding him now were drawing dinosaurs in kindergarten during his Miami era. Those dinosaurs are now fossils, but LeBron is still here. 

This is not a normal athlete. This is someone who cooked your favorite team while in his forties. 

Looking at the recent numbers, they are insane for a 41-year-old. Normal 41-year-olds are icing their knees from sitting too long, while LeBron is here doing windmills. 

In the last few weeks, he has been putting up elite numbers that would be impressive for a player at age 28.

Here are his stats from the last few games, averaging 27.0 points, 8.2 assists and 7.4 rebounds in the last 5 games. 

Normal 41-year-olds are throwing out their back reaching for the TV remote. LeBron is out here doing windmill dunks and making grown men question their career choices on national television. 

LeBron scored 8 points once, and the entire internet declared him washed. Everyone forgot the man scored double digits for 1297 consecutive games, a streak that lasted 18 years. That’s longer than Michael Jordan’s career in the NBA, which was ONLY 15 seasons. 

Comparing him to other NBA legends at 40 and the story becomes even funnier. Michael Jordan at 40 was relying on fadeaways and footwork because his knees said “we not doing this no more”. Dirk Nowitzki at the end moved like he was buffering. Vince Carter at the end was just a very tall cheerleader.

My goat at 41, though?

He is still one of the best players in the league.