LeBron James’ injury came at the perfect time. While they did crash out badly against the Timberwolves, the King wouldn’t have taken part due to a knee injury sustained in Game 5. But that’s about the end of the good news. The bad news comes in the form of James not being able to attend the 2025 Met Gala. And this, coming after being named the honorary chair for the 2025 Met Gala, is just disappointing.
“Unfortunately because of my knee injury I sustained at the end of the season I won’t be able to attend the Met Gala in NY tonight as so many people have been asking and congratulating me on! Hate to miss an historical event! My beautiful powerful Queen will be there holding the castle down as she always has done!,” said the King on X.
Unfortunately because of my knee injury I sustained at the end of the season I won’t be able to attend the Met Gala in NY tonight as so many people have been asking and congratulating me on! Hate to miss an historical event! My beautiful powerful Queen will be there holding the…
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 5, 2025
But his wording has left fans to speculate a few things. While he did leave Savannah James to be alone, the fans worry even more about the first word. The “unfortunately” might’ve given them a heart attack and a half, forcing them to think that this might’ve been the retirement call they all dreaded. So let’s break it down.
LeBron James’ tweet sends fans into a frenzy
This was not a retirement post, regardless of how people reacted to it. “wtf i thought you were retiring, almost shed a tear,” and “Thought this was a retirement post, I was finna break up with my girl” probably summed up the reactions best.
That tweet is inevitable. LeBron James is 40, so retirement is coming sooner than you think. For now, ESPN’s Shams Charania has confirmed that the King’s reign will live on for another season. His Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee at that age might ring alarm bells. But that isn’t happening now. Hold your horses.
There’s a fully different narrative set from the haters, though. “Retire bro, or at very least unburden the Lakers from what has been” and “stop holding Luka back and retire already dawg” are the best tweets to set it best. So let’s break it down.
Feb 19, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic (77) during the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
If you’d taken his stats and compared it to someone in their rookie years, it’d still read impressively. But he’s come to this age dominating the scene for two years, so by those standards, it’s underwhelming. According to those fans, averaging 24.4/7.8/8.2 while shooting 51.3% from the field held Luka Doncic and the Lakers back from their 18th championship ring. Is this justified?
There’s more. Fans have taken this opportunity to remind them of recent woes, like the 4-1 loss to the T-Wolves in the first round. “He had to let the world know why he lost 4-1 and keep up with the narrative that he’s injured ” and “What knee injury we all know that’s just and excuse for losing to the wolves in 5 ” speak it well.
The Lakers were clearly the favourites heading into the first round. They even had home court advantage, after ending #3 in the West. Everyone thought Broncic would run wild at a T-Wolves side that just scraped the #6 seed. But Anthony Edwards and Co. had other ideas. Instead of Shannon Sharpe’s “Lakers in 5,” it ended up being “Lakers out in 5.” Unsurprsingly, LeBron James was at the center of it all. And this was despite scoring 20+ points in the last 4 games- 3 of which were double-doubles.
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES
Luckily, this isn’t the retirement message the fans feared. It was just to inform his inability to attend the Met Gala. But the fans are split. While some did fear the retirement, others believe it should’ve been. What do you think about this?
The post Why Is LeBron James Not Attending Met Gala 2025? Fans Fuel Retirement Rumors After Concerning Reason Emerges appeared first on EssentiallySports.