Lakers Fan Drops Lawsuit Against LeBron James Over Misleading Retirement Tease

On October 8, 2025, a lifelong Lakers fan named Andrew Garcia filed a small claims lawsuit against NBA superstar LeBron James. Garcia accused James of "fraud, deception, and misrepresentation" after being misled by the player's "The Second Decision" teaser video.

According to Garcia, the October 7 video hinted at a "big announcement" from James, leading him to believe the 40-year-old was set to retire. Convinced this was the legend's final game, Garcia purchased two tickets worth $432.83 each for the Lakers' March 31, 2026, home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, the announcement turned out to be an advertisement for Hennessy VSOP, a brand James has long been associated with.

Seeking $865.66 in damages, Garcia argued that the ticket prices dropped significantly once the true nature of James' announcement was revealed. Just 12 days after filing the lawsuit, Garcia withdrew the case. He told TMZ Sports that a representative from PrizePicks, a daily fantasy sports app, had convinced him to end the legal battle by offering free Lakers tickets and merchandise.

Neither LeBron James nor his representatives have publicly commented on the matter.