Ex-Los Angeles Lakers Vet Danny Green On When LeBron James Will Retire & Why He Wants To Follow Richard Jefferson’s Path In Media

All things considered, Danny Green believes LeBron James will retire as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The four-time NBA MVP will turn 41 years old by the end of the year. By the time he makes his return and season debut from a sciatica injury – he has yet to practice so far this season – he’ll begin his 23rd season in the NBA. That will end up setting the record for most NBA seasons played.

While James has yet to definitively state when he will retire, Green believes he won’t last past the 2026-27 season. James’ former teammate – they won a championship together with the Lakers during the 2019-20 season – believes if it’s not after this year, it’ll be after the next season.

However, he does believe James will retire as a member of the purple and gold.

“Maybe one more year,” says Green in a one-on-one interview of how much longer James will play. “Depending on how his body reacts, I know sciatica is no joke. I’ve seen some people, my coach had it in college, and coach (Roy) Williams might have had sciatica. Depending on how bad it is, it can really mess you up. I know if his body’s telling him, I wouldn’t be surprised halfway through the year he’s saying, ‘This is my last year.’ But if not this year, he’s got one more year. I think he retires a Laker.”

Despite being the oldest player in the league, James is still playing at an All-Star level and is considered one of the top players in the NBA. The four-time NBA champion clinched his record 21st All-Star bid last season and averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game on 51.3% from the field, 37.6% from beyond the arc and a career high 78.2% from the charity stripe.

What could also help rejuvenate James despite the sciatica injury is the play of his young Lakers teammates, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Doncic is averaging an NBA-high 37.1 points per game, while Reaves is averaging 30.3 points per game. Both players are averaging at least nine assists per game in James’ absence.

Their strong play has led to the Lakers surprisingly starting the season at 8-3. That’s despite the fact that Doncic has been limited to seven games and Reaves has missed three games.

Green says this is where James has made his “home,” with his son, Bronny James, being a Laker and his other son, Bryce James, playing college ball with the Arizona Wildcats. James has been a member of the Lakers since the 2018-19 season.

“It’s where he’s made his home with his son and his other son, Bryce, at Arizona, is not far,” says Green. “I couldn’t see him being traded to go chase a ring somewhere else, another team, and being la third or fourth option. He’s already second or third option now. Some consider him a second or third option here. I couldn’t see him taking even less of a role at 40 even though he’s about to be 41. He’s still an all-NBA level type player. I think LA is his home. I don’t see him going anywhere else.”

Green himself retired at the age of 37 last year after 15 years in the NBA. He says that he can’t envision James playing 25 years in the NBA.

“I can’t see him going 25 years,” says Green of James. “This is year 23 already. I think he’s either done after this year or next year at most. I think that’s what his body’s telling him.”

Danny Green On His New Podcast ‘No Fouls Given’ With Paul Pierce

While Green may be retired, he is embarking on a new stage in his career and that would be in broadcasting.

The three-time NBA champion has hosted his own podcast, “Inside the Green Room,” for a number of years, dating back to his days with the Toronto Raptors during the 2018-19 season. He has also been a regular contributor for ESPN’s coverage of the NBA, providing analysis work.

With the 2025-26 NBA season now in full swing, Green is starting up another podcast, this time with Boston Celtics great Paul Pierce. The two are joining forces to co-host a podcast called “No Fouls Given,” which is being launched by Playmaker HQ.

Playmaker HQ has become a notable entity in the podcast space in recent years, helping launch Shaquille O’Neal’s popular podcast in addition to shows by Jalen Brunson/Josh Hart and Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller.

Green says the show will focus not just on one topic, but on just about everything. That means betting, what’s happening in the sports world and what’s happening outside of the sports world will be covered on the show.

The show will debut three new episodes each week and each episode will likely go under an hour.

“It is more so breaking down the game, breaking down teams, roster spots, cultural movements that’s happening,” says Green of the show’s premise. “Trending topics that’s going on in the league. What’s happening in the sports world, outside world, and even the regular world. We talked about Christian Woods’ home being burglarized. We talk about all those type of topics.”

Green details how it differs from his other podcast, “Inside The Green Room.”

“Then on other side of it, we get a chance to talk about what teams that we like, trending topics in basketball or individual players that we like,” says Green. “It’s not very different from Inside the Green Room, but it is different, because Inside the Green Room was just me, my co-host, and it’s more so breaking down the game. you know, where it seems right? It’s kind of the same thing here, but it says more culturally worldwide, and more different trending topics.”

Both Green and Pierce are prominent media personalities who have been featured during ESPN’s NBA broadcasts. The former sharpshooter speaks glowingly of being paired with Pierce, a 10-time All-Star forward who was one of the best players of his generation.

“I’ve obviously followed and played against Paul since I was young,” says Green of Pierce. “I’ve watched him since I was young, and got a chance to play against him when I grew up. He was one of the OG’s that I looked up to. He had an unbelievable, underrated career. I obviously see what he’s doing in the media space and his own podcast space. He has some really good stuff, good content, good hidden gems, different type of perspective. He knows the game from a different angle, from before I got in. He knew the league back then.”

Green – who is pretty reserved and laid back – details why the pairing with Pierce – who is more vocal – works well together.

“On the flip side, on the media aspect, I’m just trying to learn and get as many reps in as possible to become better in the media space, and also in the podcast space, is seeing how he approaches things, how he attacks things, or just his perspective,” says Green of Pierce. “Me being more kind of reserved, kind of gives it the balance, if that makes sense.”

Green says he’s trying to learn and grow as much as possible in his second career as a media personality. He mentions Richard Jefferson as a key influence and would love to start broadcasting games as Jefferson does. Jefferson – a former NBA veteran – is now on ESPN’s top broadcasting team as a color commentator alongside Mike Breen and Tim Legler.

He mentions a number of different personalities such as the late great Stuart Scott, Rick Fox and the entire “Inside the NBA” crew as influential figures as he continues to develop in his media career.

Green says one of the key things he’s been advised on is to make your bold statement early rather than reserving the punch line for the end.

“You want to make your bold statement early,” says Green of analyzing the game. “Learning every day, trying to get more comfortable every day with the people that I work with, and just trying to be one of the best player people in the space. Richard Jefferson is another guy. I’ve gotten the chance to play with Richard, watch him grow and do his thing. He’s unbelievable, and how he’s quick on his toes in speaking and now he’s calling games. Ultimately, I want to be able to try to do all those things too. But he’s really good, and just watching him and learning from him, and hearing some of the gems that he gives me helps a lot too.”