LeBron James on his possible final MSG game

LeBron James offered thoughtful reflection afterwards The Los Angeles Lakers lost 112-100 to the New York Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

At 41, James wondered if the game could be his last in the legendary arena in his 23rd and final NBA season.

He scored 22 points with six assists and five rebounds after being named a reserve for his NBA record 22nd consecutive All-star selection. His record at MSG dropped to 23-9, where he previously averaged 28.2 points, 7.6 assists and 7.0 rebounds.

After the game, pondering the possibility that this could be one of his last appearances at MSG, James shared his thoughts in the moment.

“At the end of the day, everything has to come to an end at some point. So no matter what it is, it’s going to be like, ‘S*t, I’m never going to play at Madison Square Garden again. I’m never going to play certain arenas again. I’m never going to play again, period.’

“At that point, it doesn’t matter. You’ll always miss it. You’ll miss the game in general. This one will always have a special place on the trip because it’s Madison Square Garden.”

“At the end of the day, everything has to come to an end at some point. So no matter what, it’s going to be like, ‘S—, I’m never going to play in Madison Square Garden again. I’m never going to play in certain arenas again. I’m never going to play again, period'” – LeBron on his uncertain future pic.twitter.com/nvtrENDPE4

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 2, 2026

“King James” hasn’t confirmed if this season will be his last, but the chance of a final MSG appearance has driven up ticket prices, with courtside seats going for over $500 and courtside seats selling for thousands.

It’s no surprise that the Lakers superstar is nearing retirement. While he still plays at an All-Star level, he no longer has the same stamina. For the first time in his career, he misses the opening of the regular season was an early sign of that.

This season, James is averaging a career-high 33.1 minutes per game. He also missed the starting lineup for the 2026 All-Star Game for the first time in 22 years. It’s a sign that James’ career is entering its final phase.

Like other all-time greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, James had memorable goals at Madison Square Garden.

James will decide his future in due time, but for now, his focus is on leading the Lakers to another championship.