For the first time in his career, people are pointing fingers at LeBron James, calling him “washed”. His tired-looking performance against the Phoenix Suns confirmed for many that his best days could finally be behind him.
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Amid this narrative, Candace Parker has spoken about how every player adjusts to new roles differently. She then suggested that LeBron may soon be forced to make a difficult decision.
The Los Angeles Lakers no longer appear to rely on James the way they once did. They have Luka Doncic and a strong second-scoring option in Austin Reaves. James even missed the first few weeks of the 2025–26 season due to sciatica, a stretch in which the Lakers thrived.
So how does one of the greatest players of all time accept that his role on the team he led to a championship in 2020 has diminished? According to Parker, James must be honest with himself.
Former Laker Matt Barnes asked Parker during an episode of All the Smoke whether James might struggle to adjust to this new role. “I think every player is different, from whatever role you play. It is just you deciding what you want next,” she replied.
Parker argued that if winning matters more to James than leading a team on the floor, then he should sit back and enjoy and appreciate the fact that the Lakers are performing well without him.
“If winning is truly the goal, then you have to humble yourself,” the WNBA legend declared. “You have to realize that you are not playing this role winning, and to me, I feel that’s the reckoning. Like Father Time, it doesn’t matter how long; it is delayed, it is not denied. It’s going to catch up with you.”
Parker decided to retire in 2023 before her form took a major dip because she didn’t want the basketball community to remember her for what she used to do. The negatives were outweighing the positives. And Parker feels James should also sit and think about this.
“I think Bron, honestly, the amount of years he’s played, he’s added to his legacy tremendously,” she continued. “I think a conversation that every player should have is — is this outweighing? Is this more positive than negative?”
Parker further pointed to James’ sciatica and noted how injuries are constantly affecting him. It’s affected his “freak athlete aura” somewhat. “With these injuries piling up, he has to figure out… is it worth it?” she added.
Parker did not directly suggest that James should retire or sink deeper into a bench role. But she certainly did hint towards it. James is turning 41 in a couple of weeks, and if he plays just for the sake of it, it’ll be a painful stain on his incredible legacy.
