LeBron James said on his 40th birthday that he plans to retire with the Lakers, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
“I think that’s the plan,” James told a swarm of reporters on Monday. “I would love for it to end here. That would be the plan. I came here to play the last stage of my career and to finish it off here. But I’m also not silly or too jaded to know the business of the game as well, to know the business of basketball. But I think my relationship with this organization speaks for itself. And hopefully, I don’t got to go nowhere before my career is over.”
James is in his seventh season as a Laker. He signed a two-year, $101.4MM contract with a no-trade clause during the offseason but could become a free agent again in the summer. He holds a $52.6MM player option.
No one his age in league history has posted the kind of numbers he has this season. He’s averaging 23.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 9.0 assists in 35 minutes per game while appearing in 28 of 31 Lakers contests so far.
“If I really wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level probably for about another — it’s weird that I might say this — but probably about another five to seven years, if I wanted to,” James said. “But I’m not going to do that.”
When will James retire? If he has a notion, he didn’t reveal it on Monday. He did declare that once he leaves the game, he’ll resist the urge to make a comeback.
“I would miss the hell out of (basketball), for sure,” James said. “But no, I won’t walk away and come back.”
The sooner the better!
I’m not a big LeBron fan but everyone should take time to watch him before he retires. He truly is a great player. I don’t do top 5 list, etc but for 20+ years(like him or not) he has played at the highest level of basketball and dominated
For as much as I am not a LBJ fan, got to give him some crazy respect for his ability to play at this high a level into his 40’s. Factor in his playoff games played and the dude has basically played 25 years of NBA ball and is still racking up 23.5, 8 and 9.
He should play as long as his body allows him to perform at a level he finds personally satisfying.
No one has ever delivered on their potential more than LeBron James.
But, but, but…Wait, wait, wait…Did he clear this through Davey J? We all know he knows “BALL”. The Warriors are supposed to trade half their roster, in a multi-teamer, giving up 10 future 1st round draft picks to get LeBron and, Davey’s words, nepobaby Bronny. This would guarantee that the Warriors win 10 consecutive NBA Finals. Of course, Draymond would be the headcoach. And they would defeat a Klay Thompson led Mavericks team every year.
Give Davey J some time to dry his tears due to hearing this news
There’s not a drop of humility in that man
Please explain to us what you have ever achieved?
He certainly could play that long because the nba drafts are literally getting worse and worse yearly.
These young guys cant play, that’s why he and several others can play as long as they take care of their bodies.
Sure he could play for another 5-7 seasons but it’s because he’s that good. The NBA has plenty of young talent. Wembanyama is a future All-Time great and there’s plenty of guys coming up. Flagg, Bailey and Harper. The next draft you have Camryn Boozer, Dybantsa and Peterson.
The NBA talent level is fine, there are established stars like Luka, Shai, Jokic and Tatum and there are youngsters that are coming into their own like Holmgren and Edwards. I could go on but I think most can see my point.
There is a point hidden in there that rings true…
But it’s more about how the NCAA is failing to teach the youth how to play basketball…
Plenty of hungry international players, but far too many hype train disappointments like Dlo from the NCAA…
Let me preface this by saying the players have the rights to do what they think is best for them. However with the constant movement from team to team and the early entries into pro ball the development of the players is being hindered in such a way that many are just not ready. I get that they want to get paid while they can, but these moves are not helping many of them long term.
The NBA has a serious talent problem. When LeBron, KD and Curry retire this leauge will not be in a good place. Wemby is great and there will be #1 picks that are. But teams in the lottery are continously getting mediocre players. Chicago is a prime example. The quality compared to 20 years ago has fallen off big time
Chicago doesn’t have talented players because the drafts have been too weak? Do you really think that?
Chicago does not have talented players because they draft poorly and sign overhyped and mostly injured players
Yes and a lot of other teams. look at the Pistons. If you don’t win the #1 pick you will be stuck at the bottom with how few elite talents are in the draft now. OKC and the Warriors didn’t have a single #1 overall pick in the late 2010s to build their great teams. That is almost impossible today
I didn’t need to address the obvious, that he’s THAT good – he’s got some records, I believe. smh
I’d like to see him retire a cab personally…
LBJ is just a heck of an athlete. He has proven over and over again that age is just a mere number until not. Bravo LBJ!!
The league will be just fine sans Lebron, Steph, KD.
No shortage of players to keep the league relevant.
Must be nice to be tapped and get a foul called to think you can play another 5-7 years.
He could play another hundred years. But MJ will always be the GOAT.
when your team is actually better when your off the court its not playing at a high level its called padding your stats
When I realized this is the guy that said “…not 3, not 4, not 5, not 6, not 7…”in a Heat uniform I disregarded the statement.