LeBron James will turn 38 years old on Friday, but he continues to play at an All-NBA level, averaging 27.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in 27 games (35.7 MPG) so far this season. He’s on track to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer sometime later this winter.
From a team perspective, however, 2022 has been perhaps James’ worst year as a pro. After missing the playoffs in the spring, the Lakers are off to a 14-21 start this season and currently rank 13th in the West.
Following Los Angeles’ loss to Miami on Wednesday night, James reflected on where his career stands and his goals going forward, telling reporters – including Dave McMenamin of ESPN and Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press – that he feels like he has plenty left in the tank from a physical perspective.
“I don’t have a number,” James said, when asked how many more seasons he might play. “I know as long as my mind stays in it, I can play at this level for a minute. Now, that’s up to my mind. My body is going to be OK because if my mind is into it, I will make sure my body is taken care of and I’ll continue to put in the work.”
What will it take for LeBron’s mind to remain focused on basketball for the next few years? He suggested that he’d want his team(s) to be more competitive than the Lakers have been this season.
“I don’t want to finish my career playing at this level, from a team aspect,” James said. “I want to still be able to compete for championships because I know what I can still bring to any ballclub with the right pieces.
“… I’m a winner. And I want to win. I want to win and give myself a chance to win and still compete for championships. … Playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball, it’s not in my DNA. It’s not in my DNA anymore. So, we’ll see what happens. We’ll see how fresh my mind stays over the next couple of years.”
James is under contract with L.A. through at least the 2023/24 season, with a player option for ’24/25, so he won’t have the ability to leave the team as a free agent this summer — he also hasn’t shown the desire to do so, even if he could. His comments seem intended more to keep the pressure on the Lakers’ front office to make the sort of moves that could get the team back to title contention.
Reports in recent months have repeatedly suggested that the Lakers don’t intend to make a trade involving their tradable 2027 and 2029 first-round picks unless there’s a deal they believe makes them a legitimate championship threat. Thus far, that deal hasn’t materialized, and with Anthony Davis sidelined for the foreseeable future due to a foot injury, Rob Pelinka and his group appear less inclined to go all-in this season.
With Russell Westbrook‘s massive contract coming off the books at the end of the 2022/23 season, James may have to wait until the ’23 offseason for the Lakers to make major roster changes.
and my goal is to bang Margot Robbie
When you’re making a request to be traded without saying you’re making a request to be traded…
Thumbs up jump shot but probably not. I don’t think he’s going anywhere and they’re going for it this summer with 50 million dollars at their disposal.
WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SAYING THIS?!? LeBron cannot be traded this season. The extension that the Lakers gave him was more than 5% greater than his previous salary or something like that, but the Lakers literally cannot trade him unless they restructure his contract.
Dammit… we should all know the fine print in LeBron’s contract before commenting socially.
I’m Guilty!
No problem with LeBron here. Dude’s making it happen at 38, playing like he’s 28. Or should I say, many WISH they were playing at this level at 28, let alone 38. Good for him.
But you can see he definitely recognizes his mortality. “Compete for championships?” I hear other guys say they play and their “goal is to WIN championships.” Small difference but he knows he’s slowing down in the next few years.
Another clue is that he included, “with the right pieces.” He can make a team a winner with the right pieces.
Well here’s hoping the Lakers can make that happen somehow, someway. I guess ride this season out as the article states, and wait till next summer.
As many of us said, burn a year of LeBron because they have to sleep in this bed they made trading for Westbrook.
Question. With Anthony “weak to week-ish” on the roster, does he come back next year? Do you ride that horse of instability and injury possibility or trade him for “the right pieces?”
I would say probably so but just wondering if the possibility of trading him away is there? So they can compete for a championship instead of in street clothes? Probably a stupid question, but is it in the back of their minds? Thoughts?
Clarification, do you trade Davis?
problem of trading Davis is you can’t get back what you gave up for him. Maybe they can get back a couple draft picks and another over paid all star Nobody is going to trade you a franchise altering trade for a guy who is always hurt.
Anthony Davis for DeMar DeRozan, Pat Williams and a pick?
I think Bulls would want a pick coming back to them. More likely Zach for AD and a couple of draft picks.
I agree about recognizing his own mortality. I’m a Cavs fan and I’ve seen him single-handedly carry a team several times, but now he seems to realize that he can’t do it on his own anymore even though he’s still playing at a high level.
As for AD, I think they keep him because a healthy AD is better than anything they’d get back for him and his value is too low to make moving him worthwhile. It’s tough to bank on him staying healthy because he really hasn’t been able to, but I still think that’s their best option.
Great points Michael Chaney.., especially the ones you agreed with me on LOL just kidding. Good stuff.
Wanna win a ship huh better join tha KANGZ.
F outta here lechina I hope you lose more games than deshaun Watson
This is why you don’t resign with the lakers early
If Lebron wants to compete in a championship he should have taken a slight discount on his salary . He also should try more in defense and shoot less threes . It seems to me he is just focusing on catching Karim .
I don’t think anyone loves lebron more than lebron
As a long time season ticket holder I think we should make no moves and hopefully James asks to be traded after the season. He is responsible for the mess that is now the Lakers.
Pretty sure lakers management made these decisions including signing lebron. They could’ve waited for Kawhi and PG like the clippers and kept their prospects, but they wanted those jersey and viewership deals.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been a mess since Dr. Buss passed. Jeanie is the least wealthy of the 30 owners. I think it’s time to sell….
Letting Caruso walk to avoid a tax bill and in turn bringing back THT(Klutch) shows all you need to know about where the Lakers heads are at.
So when is he leaving the Lakers?
I guess Pelinka could make a deal with whomever he thinks is going to get Bronny…
LBJ is lyin…. His goal hasnt been about winning for a long while now…
Since LeBron decided to go out of his way to show himself on social media a month ago bumping Tory Lanez to show his “support”. I am absolutely done with this fool! Clearly not the guy his image portrays. He was also laughing it up with Miles Bridges following the Charlotte game. We keep validating that all this is ok.
DNA should be added to the list of things he doesn’t understand.