Los Angeles Lakers legend LeBron James is often in front of a microphone.
Media pressers. Podcast episodes. Award shows. However, on Wednesday, the future Hall of Famer made a rare in-person appearance on a nationally syndicated sports show. In his rich and revealing interview with punter-turned-media personality Pat McAfee, James discussed everything from his 2007 NBA Finals run with the Cleveland Cavaliers to Miami Heat president taking his chocolate chip cookies.
He also opened up about the elephant in the room: his impending retirement.
Lakers’ LeBron James Reveals How He’ll ‘Know’ When To Retire
“It’s all about —for real, for me —it’s my mind.”
“Obviously I know that I’m on the other side of the hill..
For me it’s all about my mind and I’m all about the process..
I will be able to tell when it’s a wrap” ~ @KingJames#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/VaXq0ZrCQ3
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 26, 2025
“I am all about the process… If it gets to the point where I don’t feel like showing up to the arena five hours in advance, or I don’t feel like training, or I don’t feel like studying the scout sheet… If it gets to that point, I’ll know —like you know what Bron —it’s a wrap,” the 40-year-old says.
With that in mind, what’s been evident throughout this season is that from a physical standpoint, James has managed to compensate for declining explosiveness in various ways.
The Punisher
The most simple enhancement may be that he’s become a bruiser. He’s always been a terror coming down the lane, in the halfcourt or fullcourt. However, while he’s still able to get up, he’s more likely to shoulder through his defender than jump over them.
Indeed, James has only 59 dunks this season, not far off of his career-low (74). In addition, he’s had fewer than 90 dunks in each season he’s played with the Lakers. In the 15 previous seasons, he only finished with fewer than 90 dunks once.
Despite this, he’s been more efficient inside these last seven season. With Los Angeles, he’s converted 76.9 percent of his shots 0-3 feet away from the rim. Prior to signing with the Lakers, he was shooting 73.3 percent when 0-3 feet away from the basket.
In 2024-25, James is scoring 0.96 points per possession on isolation attempts (70th percentile) and 1.02 points per possession on post-ups (59th percentile). He’s also shooting 53.8 percent from the field on drives; not far off of Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo’s mark (55.3 percent).
The Archer
James has also become a formidable presence outside the 3-point line, extending his range and reliability.
As a rookie, he was 19-93 (20.4 percent) when shooting 25 feet and behind. His first year with the Heat, he went 41-150 (27.3 percent). The season that he returned to the Cavaliers, he was 70-225 (31.1 percent) from shooting 25+ feet away. Then, in his first season with the Lakers, he went 89-262 (34.0 percent) from that same distance.
In 2024-25, he’s made 111 of the 295 attempts (37.6 percent) he’s taken from 25+ feet away.
The General
James’s mind is still his most defining trait. That’s not just in terms of basketball IQ, though he’s long been regarded as a hoops genius. It’s also his mentality. Though he was born with traits that lent themselves to him becoming a successful player, his regimented approach has helped set him apart as well.
He may never lose the passion for playing or being around the game. He lives and breathes the sport and why not, as it’s helped his life tremendously. Nonetheless, if he isn’t fully engaged, it’ll be be an even clearer sign of his decline than his flyer miles.
Right now, that isn’t an issue. There’s no telling when it will be though.
© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
