A long-time Lakers fan said he thought he was buying tickets to witness history when he ecstatically forked over hundreds of dollars for tickets to a game after hearing LeBron James was about to make what was billed as the “decision of all decisions.”
Andrew Garcia, of Norwalk, took that cryptic language as a sign — one of the NBA’s greatest players would retire at the end of the season. Garcia quickly snapped up two tickets to the late-season March 31, 2026 Lakers-Cavaliers game, featuring James against his former team.
But the announcement this week, teased in a social media post as speculation swirls around James’ future after the upcoming season, wasn’t about retirement. The future hall of famer announced Tuesday the Hennessy V.S.O.P Limited Edition by LeBron James, available in select markets worldwide this month.
In a post Monday tagged #TheSecondDecision, the Lakers’ 21-time NBA All-Star said “The decision of all decisions” would be announced the next morning. The hashtag on the open-ended post and video were apparent references to the much-hyped 2010 announcement that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to play for the Miami Heat. The announcement was part of an ESPN special titled, “The Decision.”
After seeing the post, Garcia soon spread the word among those he knew — he had tickets to what he thought at the time might be one of James’ last games.
“The next day comes, and he’s not retiring,” Garcia said. “They’re all talking crap to me.”
On Wednesday, Garcia filed a small claims court lawsuit in Los Angeles County. It claims the defendant, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, owes Garcia $865.66 and accuses James of fraud, deception and misrepresentation.
Garcia said it’s not about the money.
“Even if I lost this case, sticking up to LeBron James on principal is enough for me,” he said.
A non-jury trial was scheduled for Dec. 1 at the Bellflower Courthouse.
NBC4 legal analyst Royal Oakes said the vague nature of the pre-announcement post does not appear to be the basis for a lawsuit.
“I would bet a lot of money that it’ll simply be tossed out of court,” said Oakes.
Small Claims Court involves lawsuits against people, business or government that the plaintiff believes owes them money. Generally, small claims cases do not exceed more than $12,500.
NBCLA reached out the Lakers and James’ reps for comment. Coach JJ Redick was asked Tuesday about the announcement.
“You guys are idiots,” Redick said with a smile. “We all knew it wasn’t happening… Nobody was freaking out.”
As for James, he will apparently be sidelined for at least three to four weeks with sciatica on his right side to start the season.
James, 40, and the Lakers open the regular season Oct. 21 at home against the Warriors, embarking on the team’s first full season with All-Star Luka Dončić. The King, who will turn 41 in December, enters the season tied with Vince Carter for most NBA seasons played at 22.
He was asked about retirement — #TheThirdDecision? — in September and simply said he was excited to play his 23rd season. James has acknowledged that his playing days are nearing an end, but has not offered specifics on a timeline for retirement.
James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds last season. The Lakers were bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The league’s all-time leading scorer earned All-NBA Second Team honors for the 2024-25 season.
He enters the 2025-26 season on an expiring contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the spring.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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