LeBron James at 41 is still doing it in his 23rd NBA season but what comes next remains anyone’s guess. Whether this is his last year in the league or just his last with the Los Angeles Lakers is still up in the air.
What is not up for debate is what he’s meant to the game. Across 1,619 regular-season games, he’s averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists while collecting 21 All-Star nods, four MVP awards, four Finals MVP honors and four championships. That resume does not have many comparisons.
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Kendrick Perkins pitches bold New York move for LeBron
Now the conversation has shifted to where he finishes. Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins has a clear answer on ESPN’s “NBA Today” and it might raise some eyebrows.
“If I’m LeBron James, I would really, really consider playing my last year with the New York Knicks,” Perkins said. “Could you imagine what that would do for the game of basketball in the NBA. When you talk about the economic side, how much money that’s going to bring to the table.”
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“LeBron finishing out his career in the Mecca in Madison Square Garden and on top of that the Knicks still have a roster where if you add a LeBron James yeah you might have to give up some pieces you’re going out with still having a legit shot at making a championship run.”
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron JamesKevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The idea is not as far-fetched as it sounds. LeBron has long had a complicated relationship with New York. He’s called Madison Square Garden his favorite building to play in and the numbers back that up. In over 32 games at MSG, he holds a 24-8 record and has averaged 28.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.9 steals in 38.8 minutes.
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The Knicks were in the mix during his 2010 free agency before he chose Miami and again in 2014 before he went back to Cleveland. The pull has always been there.
For a lot of fans, the image of LeBron in a Knicks jersey feels like something out of a video game. But leaving Los Angeles wouldn’t be simple either. He currently shares the floor with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and walking away from that is a real tradeoff worth considering.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.