LeBron James has been hit with one of the most bizarre lawsuits of his career — all because of his recent “Decision Part 2” tease that turned out to be a marketing stunt for Hennessy instead of a retirement announcement.
The setup: fans thought he was retiring
Last week, LeBron shocked the sports world by hinting at “The Decision Part 2,” a callback to his iconic 2010 ESPN special where he revealed his move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat.
Given that the 40-year-old NBA superstar is nearing the twilight of his career, many fans assumed the new teaser meant he was announcing his retirement. But when the truth dropped — that it was all part of a Hennessy V.S.O.P. campaign — social media exploded with mixed reactions.
The lawsuit: $866 over “false hope”
One particularly frustrated Los Angeles Lakers fan has now filed a small claims lawsuit against LeBron, demanding $866 in damages. The fan says they bought two tickets to the upcoming Lakers vs. Cavaliers game, believing it would be LeBron’s final matchup against his hometown team.
The lawsuit claims that the tickets “lost sentimental and resale value” after LeBron revealed he wasn’t actually retiring — accusing the star of “deceptive emotional manipulation.”
While the claim is unlikely to make it past the filing stage, it’s already gone viral online for how petty and absurd it sounds.
The reality: LeBron never said he was retiring
It’s worth noting that LeBron never explicitly stated he was retiring — the entire frenzy came from fan speculation. The teaser video only hinted at a major “decision,” which later turned out to be the reveal of his new collector’s edition Hennessy bottle.
Legal experts and fans alike are calling the lawsuit “frivolous,” noting that no actual damages were caused. Most agree the fan could simply resell the tickets or attend the game as planned.
What’s next for LeBron
As for his career, LeBron hasn’t given any clear indication of when he’ll hang it up. He’s entering his 22nd NBA season and continues to perform at an elite level. Retirement talk will likely return eventually — but for now, it seems “The King” is still very much on his throne.
