LeBron Announces He’s Retiring To Spend Less Time With His Kid

LeBron James has been the center of several key bombshell announcements — most notably in 2010, when he declared his intentions to take his MVP-sided “talents to South Beach.” So when he scheduled an interview for prime time on Thursday, on ESPN2, speculation ran wild: Was he returning to the Cavs? Was he reprising his role of “LeBron James” in Space Jam 3? 

It turned out he was announcing his retirement from basketball so that he could spend less time with his son, Bronny. “The thing about basketball is, when I was mid-career and doing well, it was a great way to get away from my kids — particularly Bronny,” said James, 39. “But lately it’s been a really bad way to get away from Bronny. In fact, more and more it seems like he and I are on the same bus, in the same hotel, spending quality time together in the locker room before the game.” He buried his head in his hands. “I don’t want to become one of those dads.” 

Why now? During the interview with Malika Andrews, James rattled off a list of things he doesn’t want to do with his son, including hiking, taking road trips, playing golf, even taking up pickleball — all fam, no Bronny, of course. He said these next few years in the NBA would be “so critical” for Bronny, including grinding through his sophomore season, getting snubbed for MVP just like his old man was, and juggling his season and his family. “I want to not be there for any of that,” said James. “I also want him to know he can never call me when he needs something — anytime.” 

Since the interview, Bronny has been spending time with Michael Jordan, who some say reached even further heights as an even worse dad than LeBron ever will.