All eyes are on Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James as there are signs of this season being his last. Following L.A.’s visit to Cleveland, James addressed this, remaining noncommittal about playing next season after getting emotional during a tribute video.
Given how the veteran is playing, many expected him to be back for a 24th season, whether in Los Angeles or elsewhere. Judging by how aging stars like their farewell tour, it felt like a healthy assumption that James would want his own.
However, that is not set in stone, as he stated following his potential last trip to Ohio as a visitor. With a visit to Madison Square Garden to play the New York Knicks looming on Sunday, ticket prices are skyrocketing to absurd prices due to the possibility of this being James’ final appearance at this historic arena that he loves playing at so much, via Stefan Bondy of the New York Post:
According to TickPick, Knicks-Lakers on Sunday is the most expensive NBA game since Kobe’s final appearance in 2016.
The average purchase price for Sunday is $912, according to TickPick
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) January 29, 2026
Who knows whether these inflated prices are an indication of what’s to come, but fans believe it very well could be. As Bondy pointed out, Kobe Bryant’s final game was the most expensive game and that wound up being a classic.
Nonetheless, extra energy and allure to a Lakers-Knicks matchup is not a bad thing, as it makes for a great nationally televised game. Moving forward, every road environment will carry more weight, equivalent to Bryant’s final season.
From James’ perspective, he remains noncommittal about his future and whether this indeed it. Ultimately, it will be a game of wait and see, but fans are not going to want to miss the chance of potentially seeing an all-time great for the final time in the most historic arena in the world.
Cavaliers would ‘gladly’ welcome LeBron James return this summer
Should James opt to suit up for another season, his situation with the Lakers seems fractured as he did not extend with them last summer. So, James will be an impending free agent, opening the door of possibly signing elsewhere to finish his career.
The most logical destination would be the Cavaliers, returning to where it all started for a third potential stint. With uncertainty brewing in Los Angeles, Cleveland would reportedly gladly welcome back their homegrown star to close out his historic career.
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