Los Angeles Lakers superstar combo forward LeBron James doesn’t have anything left to prove in his last few years in the NBA. He has accomplished more in his career than the majority of players in the league ever will.
The four-time champion has delighted fans for 22 years and has shown few signs of slowing down any time soon. While retirement eventually comes for us all, James is showing that he can defy aging and continue to go strong.
After the Lakers lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, he was asked if this was the last time that he would play in Cleveland. Of course, this is barring any NBA Finals matchup between the Lakers and Cavaliers.
With his answer, he seemed to hint at some possible plans for his retirement.
“Probably not. Probably not,” he said. “Bronny told me I have to stick around now for Bryce.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 28: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off the court after being defeated by the Phoenix Suns in the NBA game at Footprint Center on October 28, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. James hinted at some possible retirement plans.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
James seems to at least be planning on playing past this season. The joke about him sticking around for his other son, 17-year-old Sierra Canyon School senior guard Bryce, also leaves the door open for him to play even longer.
However, Bryce isn’t eligible for the NBA for at least two more years, so it’s likely a longshot for that to happen. James has a player option for the 2025-26 season with the Lakers.
In the game against Cleveland, his eldest son Bronny scored his first career points in the NBA. Bronny grew up in Cleveland so scoring the points there had some unique resonance.
LeBron reflected on his son’s accomplishments, showing a ton of emotion in his answer.
“He’s better than I would have been in that situation — 20,000 fans screaming my name to get in the game and wanting me to be in the game, and if the role’s reversed, I don’t know if I would have been able to handle it,” said LeBron, who scored 26 points but had six turnovers as he lost in Cleveland as an opponent for only the third time in 12 games. “To see him get his first NBA basket in this arena where he grew up not too far away from here, it’s an unbelievable moment.
“An unbelievable moment for him, first of all. For our family. It’s just pretty cool to be a part of it.”
This was a special moment for both members of the James family but it seems that the elder James plans to be around for more of his son’s career.
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