LeBron James’ shocking performance fuels retirement speculation: Is Father Time catching up with the King?

LeBron James has been a dominant force in the NBA for the past 22 years. The Los Angeles Lakers forward boasts more trophies than some entire franchises and is guaranteed a spot in the Hall of Fame. However, even the “King” seems unable to fend off the effects of aging, as some analysts have begun to point out.

The Lakers kicked off the 2024-2025 NBA season on a high note, winning their first three games against Phoenix, Golden State, and Minnesota, solidifying their reputation as one of the favorites to make the Western Conference playoffs.

However, the team hit an unexpected roadblock on Monday, suffering a 109-105 loss in their second encounter with the Phoenix Suns-this time on the road in Arizona.

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant led the Suns to victory, combining for 66 points. But ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins turned the spotlight on LeBron, noting his underwhelming performance and suggesting that age may finally be catching up with the four-time champion.

LeBron and the Big 4-0

During the broadcast, Perkins took to X (formerly Twitter) to say, “Bron actually looks like he’s about to turn 40. Worst game I’ve seen from him in a very long time.”

James’ stats seem to support Perkins’ statement. On Monday night, the “King” contributed just 11 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, shooting a mere 21.4% from the field-far below the 23 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 51% shooting average he posted in the first three games of the season.

In the post-game press conference, LeBron addressed the loss: “We’re in the process, still getting to know our system, still getting to know each other out there on the floor. But we want to make sure losses don’t start coming in bunches.“

The loss in Phoenix marked the beginning of a five-game road trip for the Lakers. Up next are the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, followed by the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies in the coming week.

While LeBron may bounce back in the next few games, his 40th birthday on December 30th is looming, and even the greatest athletes can’t outrun Father Time forever.