Overview
- Charles Barkley told The Jim Rome Show he hopes LeBron James retires sooner rather than later to avoid the late‑career struggles he experienced himself.
- Barkley said he would like James to have a farewell tour and then walk away, calling him one of the three greatest players he has seen after Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
- LeBron has yet to make his season debut due to a right sciatica issue, and there is no firm timetable for his return beyond an expected re‑evaluation.
- The Lakers improved to 7-2 without James after a 118-116 win over the Spurs, extending their early‑season success in his absence.
- Despite the public retirement plea, James has not announced any plans to retire and is coming off a 2024–25 season with All‑NBA Second Team honors and averages of 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds.