3 days Ago By Rory Robinson
When LeBron James eventually decides to hang it up and call it a career, it won't be because 'father time' has caught him. The NBA's all-time leading scorer said he believes he could play at an elite level for another 5-7 years , and while he wants them to be with the Los Angeles Lakers , he acknowledged the unpredictable nature of NBA business. "I think that's the plan," James said when asked if he envisions finishing his career in purple and gold.
"I would love to end here. That would be the plan. I mean, I came here to play my last days of my career and to finish it off here.
But I'm also not too silly or jaded to know the business of the game as well." James joined the Lakers in 2018 and helped lead the team to an NBA title in the 2020 bubble season , and has signed multiple extensions during his time in LA. Despite the title run, the team's next seasons have been inconsistent, with a combination of playoff exits and struggles to reclaim their dominance in the young, competitive Western Conference.
LeBron James adds fuel to fire as NFL threatens to heap more misery on NBA Lakers' D'Angelo Russell trade opens LeBron James supporting cast possibilities Under first-year head coach JJ Redick , the Lakers sit at 18-13, fresh off a two-game win streak against the Warriors and Kings. James had a team-high 31 points in the victory over Golden State before missing the Sacramento game due to illness. Before the team's upcoming game against his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers , James spoke about how much longer he could play at a high level.
"It won't be because I can't play this game at a high level," he said when knowing the end is near. "It won't be because of that. To be honest, if I wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level for probably about 5 to 7 years.
But I'm not going to do that," he said. After arriving in 2018, he not only helped revive the franchise to a championship but also established a strong relationship with the organization . The partnership hits at his long-term dedication to the franchise, especially after they drafted his son, Bronny James , with the No.
55 pick in the NBA Draft. The father-son duo's dream of sharing the court has finally been realized, closing an NBA bucket list chapter career. While some fans suspect that drafting Bronny may mark the beginning of the end of LeBron's career, the four-time NBA champion has continuously reminded fans that his career timeline will be judged by how he feels physically over a designated time.
"It’s all up to my body, but more importantly, my mind," he said before the team drafted Bronny. "If my mind can stay sharp and fresh and motivated, then the sky's not even a limit for me. I can go beyond that.
But we shall see.".
