A new decision has arrived! 40-year-old LeBron James drops a major teaser sparking heated discussion: announcing immediate retirement is also a possibility

On October 7th Beijing time, Lakers star LeBron James unexpectedly posted a video on social media. In the clip, James is sitting opposite the host, wearing the same shirt he wore during “Decision 1” when he declared his move to the Heat (see image). His caption was, “The decision of all decisions, October 7th, 12 PM Eastern Time (midnight Beijing Time on October 8th).”

The shirt LeBron wore during Decision 1

What decision will 40-year-old James announce? Many speculate it might involve retirement. Grizzlies star Morant repeatedly responded in the comments, first with a “No!” which likely reflects many fans’ feelings unwilling to see James retire. However, Morant later commented, “They say you’re lying,” reflecting some who think this decision might not be retirement but a marketing stunt.

Regardless, this teaser has already had a tangible impact. Ticket site TickPick showed that after James’ tweet, prices for tickets to the Lakers’ final regular-season home game against the Jazz skyrocketed, with the lowest now at $445, whereas just hours ago, similar seats were priced at only $85!

US media quickly analyzed three major possibilities behind LeBron’s new decision—

1. James announces the 2025-26 season will be his final one

James might reveal that the upcoming 2025-26 season will mark his last in the NBA. At 40, next season will be his 23rd in the league, an unprecedented achievement. His contract with the Lakers expires this summer, with no signs of renewal yet.

With the Lakers starting to view Doncic as their core and James no longer the primary star, he may lean toward retirement rather than transferring to another team.

This timing would allow him to conclude his career on his own terms while maintaining his iconic Lakers legacy from recent years.

2. Announcing immediate retirement

This scenario is unlikely, but if he suddenly decided not to play this season, it would shock the entire basketball world.

However, James’ age and limited preseason appearances due to health concerns provide some grounds for discussion. He missed the last preseason game against the Warriors, hinting at possible physical limitations. Although highly improbable, given the mysterious nature of this teaser, immediate retirement cannot be completely ruled out.

3. A marketing stunt disguised as a major announcement

For a player of James’ commercial stature, this is the most probable scenario. Major career decisions typically require carefully produced video announcements, but promotional campaigns often use similar tactics. Amazon Prime Day sales start on October 8th (Beijing time), coinciding exactly with the announcement date.

ClutchPoints reporter Brett Siegel shared James’ social media post and wrote: “For those curious, LeBron James signed a big deal with Amazon, and Prime Day starts tomorrow, so this is no coincidence.”

“If this isn’t Amazon’s promotion, then maybe LeBron is announcing that the 2025-26 season will be his last with the Lakers, but I find it hard to believe he’d announce retirement in this way,” the reporter added.

Given James’ partnership with the e-commerce giant, the “second decision” might well be marketing content instead of a career-related announcement.

James will turn 41 in December and has already made numerous historic achievements in basketball. Last season, he became the first NBA player to surpass 50,000 points combined in regular season and playoffs. His son Bronny was drafted by the Lakers, making them the first father-son duo to play together in NBA history. He has expressed excitement about playing another season, driven by his deep love for the game. Perhaps he is preparing to announce that this record-breaking 23rd season will be his last. The answer will be revealed soon.