LeBron James‘ ”Decision“ Turns Out to Be a Promotion
Los Angeles (dpa) – LeBron James’ highly anticipated proclamation of a “decision” proved to be a marketing stunt, as the basketball legend instead unveiled a partnership with a Cognac company via a video shared on his social media channels. The reveal came after speculation mounted regarding his future with the NBA.
James initially announced he would make a decision on Tuesday afternoon (local time) on Monday, sparking rumors of a possible retirement following the upcoming season. However,the announcement ultimately promoted the alcoholic beverage,leaving his basketball future uncertain.
Entering his 23rd season in the NBA, the 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2020 NBA champion is a key player for the Los Angeles Lakers. The team, alongside players like Luka Dončić, is considered a contender for the title. James released the promotional post approximately an hour before a planned 6:00 p.m. German time reveal.
The ambiguity surrounding his “decision” reportedly impacted ticket prices for upcoming Lakers games.
James currently holds the NBA record for most points scored with 42,184 and is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, alongside Michael Jordan. He is second in all-time games played with 1562, trailing only Robert Parish’s record of 1611.If James remains injury-free throughout the season, he is poised to surpass Parish and claim the record for most games played.
James has played for the Lakers since 2018,and previously played for the Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-2010 and 2014-2018) and the Miami Heat (2010-2014),winning a championship with each team.
[Image of James celebrating the 2016 NBA title – caption: “Sein größter Erfolg: James feiert den NBA-Titel 2016.” creditline: “picture alliance / dpa”]
