When LeBron James is ready to step away from the game of basketball, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reports he expects it to be announced before he plays his final games in the NBA. In recent years, all-time greats such as Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki announced their plans to retire well in advance, while Tim Duncan waited until shortly after his final season to make his announcement.

“I mean LeBron signed an extension this summer where he only has one year guaranteed, but I wouldn’t start looking at like this is going to be the clock starting to tick down on his career where he would walk away from the Lakers and retire because they struggled throughout the season,” said McMenamin. “He’s going to be on his own timeline.

“And I think when it’s the final march of LeBron, perhaps final March rather than Last Dance, we’re all going to know. We’re all going to know and it’s going to be must see TV. It’s going to be the LeBron tour coming to town throughout the 28 NBA cities culminating in a spectacular farewell.

“This isn’t going to be one of those things where after the season he says, ‘By the way, that was the last [season].’ He is going to want to dance or march his way out of the NBA.”