Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has opened up about his retirement plans, revealing that he is likely just a season or two away from the end of his illustrious NBA career.
This December, King James turns 40 but still looks capable of playing at the top level for at least a few more seasons.
In the Los Angeles Lakers’ Wednesday 128-123 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, James posted a triple-double with 35 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds.
The questions regarding his future after showing immense quality every game were a natural thing that followed in the match interview.
“I’m not going to play that much longer, to be completely honest,” James told reporters. “I don’t know how many years that is. If it’s one year or two years, whatever the case may be. I said the other night, I’m not playing until the wheels fall off. I’m not going to be that guy. I’m not going to be the guy who is disrespecting the game because I just wanted to be out on the floor.”
James has already achieved major milestones in the NBA. However, by playing alongside his son, Bronny, for the first time in an NBA game, the father-and-son duo became the first in league history to share the court on a professional level.
Nonetheless, James is far from just a ceremonial figure nearing the end of his career.
He remains one of the NBA’s top players and the key reason the Lakers are still a threat in the Western Conference.
Wednesday’s game marked his third consecutive triple-double. This season, he is averaging 24.3 points, 9.4 assists, and 8.1 rebounds per game, shooting 52.4% from the field and 45.9% from three-point range.
Should King James maintain that shooting percentage from beyond the arc, it would be his career-best, and these records are proof of his continued efficiency even at this stage of his career.
It is James’ 22nd season in the NBA, but it’s clear there is no sign of him slowing down.
It is possible that James could extend his career even further, perhaps into a 24th season, to play alongside his other son, 17-year-old Bryce, who is currently a high school senior.
Last month, James told Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor that featuring with another son on the court sounds like a great idea that cannot be ruled out. “That would be pretty cool. It’s all about my mind and then seeing how my body reacts over these next couple of years.”
Shams Charania of ESPN however reported on Thursday that his “sense” is that next season could be James’ last, but also acknowledged that the chance to play with Bryce could keep Lebron James from retiring and “around an extra year or two.”
James has emphasized the importance of his mental state as he continues to play at an elite level and noted that his mindset is just as crucial in determining how much longer he will play, as his body remains in peak physical condition.
For now, Lebron James is focused on chasing his fifth NBA championship with a Lakers team that sits at 7-4 and in sixth place in the early Western Conference standings. As long as James continues to perform at a high level, the Lakers are likely to remain in playoff contention.
It is unrealistic for teams to rely on a player approaching 40. However, given the continued excellence James has shown on the court, it is really hard to count him out, and so far the Lakers have him in their fold, they stand a chance of winning every trophy possible.