James retirement tour is difficult, is the nomadic dynasty no longer considered a dynasty? NBA decency is hidden in the details

Every time I watch Kobe's last season's game video, I always feel that it is not a simple retirement, but more like a big party where everyone in the city participates. The Lakers were very poor at the time, and the record of 21 wins and 61 losses was not the same as when fans would definitely blame the management for not doing anything. But during that time, fans made every game a holiday - watching Kobe turn and jump shot at home, listening to the cheers of opponent fans shouting "Kobe" away, even when the referee called, he seemed to have the gentleness of "Don't disturb this farewell". The last game was even more memorable, and when he made the last back jump shot at Staples Center, cheers from the audience rushed over like a tide. He scored 60 points and the team won the game. When he said "Mamba out" after the game, many people cried to the screen. This is not a retirement place. It is clearly a city that solemnly handed over its basketball memory to one person.

Dec Nowitzki's retirement is another kind of warmth. When he played his last season in 2019, Dallas fans seemed to have received a signal in advance. The slogan "Thank you Dirk" in the home stands hung from the beginning of the season until the end. Even away fans would stand up and applaud when they saw him. I remember after his last game, Cuban hugged him and said, "This jersey will never be retired, just hang it there to let everyone know who is the king here." The old driver cried like a child at that time - 21 years ago, he grew from a young man from Germany to the scoring champion in the team's history. He is no longer just a player, but the DNA of Dallas basketball.

Duncan retired in a completely "Stone Buddha" style. During the offseason, he suddenly issued a statement saying "I won't play anymore", and did not hold a press conference, nor did he say goodbye to the performance. The Spurs fans were stunned for a while, and then saved all their blessings for the day of his jersey retirement ceremony. The AT&T center was packed that day, and when the No. 21 jersey rose, the cheers lasted for a full 8 minutes, more lively than all the roars he had in his entire career combined. This is Duncan, who has been playing basketball for 19 years and has not fought for anything, but San Antonio fans know in their hearts that this "Buddha" is the foundation of their Spurs dynasty.

and Wade, although he has left the Heat for two years, the fans of the Heat always leave him a place in their hearts. He returned to Miami in his last season, and the team specially made "Wade Night" for him, giving him customized gifts every game, and the tone of the home DJ calling his name was three-pointer than usual. Now when it comes to the Heat, who wouldn’t say “Wade is the soul of the team”? In 16 years, he has been closely linked with the sun, sand and championship trophy of South Beach.

You will find that these people can have such a decent retirement ending not because of their fame, but because they "nailed" themselves on the basketball map of a city. 20 years of Lakers, 21 years of Mavericks, 19 years of Spurs, 16 years of Heat — these times are not just numbers, it means fans watch them from young to mature, and it means the team carved their names on the tactical board and every corner of the locker room. This kind of relationship cannot be exchanged for just winning a few championships. It is a tacit understanding accumulated day by day, and it is the mutual contribution of "you accompany me to grow up, and I will send you to retire."

But James's current situation is a bit confusing. He still scored 25 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists last season. It is logical that he can plan for retirement at this time, but the Lakers' attitude is very clear: you can play in the 2025-26 season, but don't expect us to stop the team's reconstruction for you. What this means is: If you choose to retire in 2026, the Lakers may not prepare for your retirement ceremony specifically; if you end your career early, it will be contrary to his goal of "striking to the first place in history".

, the Lakers cannot be blamed entirely. James has played for three teams, the Cavaliers, the Heat and the Lakers in his 22-year career. Although he has won the championship in every team, he has not been able to become a "basketball symbol" of a city like Kobe and the others. When the team needs to choose between "short-term results" and "legendary stories", it is naturally difficult for him to get unconditional support because he does not have a long-term close connection with the team.

In fact, the James team may not think now, "whether to retire from the Lakers or return to the Cavaliers", but should think, "How to make a city feel that without you, their basketball story will be incomplete." Kobe and his team have proved with 20 years of persistence: on the basketball court, decency is not something that can be obtained, it is something that can be sustained, and it is something that can be maintained.

He still has time, but this path has to be a different way