Former Los Angeles Lakers Starmetta World Peace drops a bomb on LeBron James’ future.
The Los Angeles Lakers officially marked the end of 22 years for LeBron James of the league as they were eliminated in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.
Many were hoping to run deeper from the King and Lakers, but they saw them go only five games as the Minnesota Timberwolves handled them easily.
James is already 40 years old, his second first round playoff exit, and clouds of doubt began to form around his NBA future.
James won’t appear for the rest of the postseason, but it’s not surprising that his NBA future is a big topic in the media.
For now, former La Lakers star Metta World Peace (aka Ron Artest) has dropped a poetic verdict on why it’s time for James to say goodbye to a basketball game.
“LeBron James has an incredible career. The first man played 25 years. A quarter century. As a competitor, I’m not going to get into it. It’s time for flower development,” he wrote in X.
“His legacy is solidified. He has the best career of any athlete, including the Roman Empire and the Goliath era. I’m still the number 23 man. But that’s not about him now.
There is no doubt that the Lakers are moving into a new era. What Luka Donsic will become the star of the show. With that in mind, Artest hopes that James will quietly hand over the keys to the franchise to Don Sic.
Despite his body’s 22 years of mileage, James still showed up for the Lakers in the playoffs. The data provided via Sofascore made James the Lakers’ best all-around player.
Despite being the oldest player on the floor, James brought intense defensive energy to the Lakers. Unfortunately, keeping the series competitive wasn’t enough.
But once again, James was not responsible for the Lakers’ first round exit. Other factors, including the lack of elite centers, Don Sic’s health, and the large drop of Austin Reeves’ playoff time, all played a role in the Lakers’ five-game loss.
For now, James is a member of the Lakers, and he has a $52.6 million player option and has plenty of time to determine his future for the NBA.