Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James sent the internet into a frenzy on Monday when he took to X to announce that he was going to make the “second decision” soon.
The announcement by the four-time NBA champion and the league’s all-time leading scorer got his fans and others thinking that he was referring to an imminent retirement. Ticket purchases for Lakers games also reportedly skyrocketed as people thought that the 2025–26 NBA season was going to be James’ final year in the league.
But James was not referring to retirement, as a subsequent post on his X account disclosed the 40-year-old NBA veteran was rather referring to a new collaboration with Hennessy.
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James’ actions did not sit well with a section of people, including a Lakers fan who has since filed a lawsuit against him. Per TMZ Sports, the plaintiff, identified as 29-year-old Andrew Garcia, filed the lawsuit at a small claims court on Wednesday.
Garcia, in the lawsuit, is seeking a $865.66 reimbursement from James, alleging that the basketball star appeared to hint at a retirement announcement with his initial post.
He also told the entertainment news outlet that he thought James was going to announce his retirement when he shared the post on Monday. As a result, Garcia said that he went to Ticketmaster to purchase two tickets for what he thought was going to be James’ final game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which is his former team.
The match in question is scheduled for March 31, 2026, and Garcia said he spent $432.83 for each ticket. He said the value of tickets, however, plummeted after James later disclosed that the “second decision” was his collaboration with the prestigious liquor brand and nothing more.
Garcia alleges in the lawsuit that James has to reimburse him due to “fraud, deception, misrepresentation, and any and all basis of legal recovery,” TMZ Sports reported.
He also told the news outlet that he “wouldn’t have purchased it” if James “wasn’t going to retire.” “Plain and simple,” Garcia added.
James has yet to address the confusion that ensued because of his post on Monday.
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