LeBron James intends to continue his NBA career in 2025/26, which will make him the first player in league history to play a 23rd season, writes Jonathan Landrum Jr. of The Associated Press. For now, the Lakers star’s focus is on making sure his left knee gets healthy after he sustained an MCL sprain in the playoffs.
“I have a lot of time to take care of my injury, my knee, the rest of my body and make sure I’m as close to 100% as possible when training camp begins in late September,” James said.
While James, who expressed uncertainty in the wake of the Lakers’ postseason elimination about his future plans, confirmed he has no plans to call it a career this offseason, he didn’t specifically address his contract situation. The veteran forward holds a $52.6MM player option for next season and is considered likely to either pick up that option or negotiate a new deal to remain with the Lakers.
LeBron, who will turn 41 this December, also isn’t prepared to offer a timeline for when he might call it a career, though he acknowledged that he can’t help but think about how much time he might have left in the NBA.
“At this point of my career, you think about when the end is. That’s human nature,” he told Landrum. “You think: Is it this year? Or next year? Those thoughts always creep into your mind at this point of the journey. But I have not given it a specific timetable, date. I’m seeing how my body and family reacts, too.”
After becoming Lakers teammates with his son Bronny James this past season, LeBron said it would be “insane” if he also got the opportunity to play alongside younger son Bryce James, who would be draft-eligible as early as 2026. Whether or not that happens, the four-time MVP expressed appreciation to his family for enthusiastically supporting him for as long as he wants to continue playing.
“They’re like ‘Dad, continue on your dream. This is your dream. Continue on your focus. You’ve been here for us this whole time,'” LeBron said. “When you have that type of support… it makes it a lot easier.”
So, what is the over/under on how many “I hate LeBron/Bronny” posts there will be. I’ll set the bar at 20. If the guy wants to play, and LA wants to pay him, why not? He isn’t hurting anyone.
Only thing I found strange is him saying he wants to play with his other son Bryce. Does he expect the Lakers to draft him or save a roster space for him?
The AP story doesn’t make it clear, but I imagine he was asked directly about that possibility and didn’t just bring it up unprompted.
Um…He didn’t say he wanted to play with Bryce. He said it would be “insane” if he go to.
> Um…He didn’t say he wanted to play with Bryce.
> He said it would be “insane”
That’s a bold interpretation. But, we’d expect nothing less from you at this point.
We all know he will want Bryce on whatever team he is on.
Agreed, he may not be the player he was, but he showed he can still hoop at a high level last year, I get it if he’s playing trash and just soaking up ego and money but he’s still playing his game, just not “best in the league” level from back in the day. You see other HOF guys hit the twilight years and play like Helen Keller for a few more years longer than they should have. He isn’t there yet.
I don’t like the Bronny nepotism though it’s just crazy. But that for another day lol.
From what I have read, Bronny actually had a pretty good GLeague season. Players picked in the back half of the draft aren’t expected to be NBA ready. Didn’t he comeback from a heart problem? He seems to be coming along at the normal pace.
Oh totally LBJ can plays 2-3 more years easily. He takes care of his body so well and invests on it too LOL. And remember folks, age is a number until not, age is so darn overrated…
He’s objectively hurting the team and franchise.
I’m not his biggest fan, but I appreciate what he’s accomplished. And he’s still a damn good player. So many athletes hang on and look foolish. At least LeBron still produces.
At giants. Well if you get in first maybe nobody will ear bash your precious LeBron, lol. He’s hurting the lakers and the millions that don’t want to listen to his BS excuses, watch his flopping, watch Bron guard nobody yet turn and blame his team mates for not stopping his guy too. Highest ratings in the sports history on MJs watch. Now do LeBron and tell us again he’s not hurting anyone. League is Literally suffering a slow painful death under Bron infront of your eyes and he’s not hurting anyone, lol. Your a bandwagon fan, a Warrior when it suits. Good luck with that.
When did I say I was a Lakers or a LeBron fan? The ratings for Broadcast TV have been going down for the past 15 years. Technology has changed. It has nothing to do with LeBron. Cable is dying. Streaming has taken over. The NBA’s recent media contract was the largest in its history.
See you’re wearing your LeBron coloured glasses right now. Media contract is larger now, really, wow. Are telling me my investment property bought pre covid is now worth more? Fantastic news. One globalised the game, the other slowly choking it to death. I’m guessing the salaries have gone up too. What about the shoe deals have they increased in value? Ground breaking news here. Literally the face of killing the game, yay.
And LeBron’s narcissistic media circle jerk continues for another offseason.
How is the interview narcissistic?
This doesn’t sound like LeBron at all.
Needs constant praise and admiration
A narcissist’s sense of superiority is like a balloon that gradually loses air without a steady stream of applause and recognition to keep it inflated. The occasional compliment is not enough. Narcissists need constant food for their ego, so they surround themselves with people who are willing to cater to their obsessive craving for affirmation. These relationships are very one-sided. It’s all about what the admirer can do for the narcissist, never the other way around. And if there is ever an interruption or diminishment in the admirer’s attention and praise, the narcissist treats it as a betrayal.
Sense of entitlement
Because they consider themselves special, narcissists expect favorable treatment as their due. They truly believe that whatever they want, they should get. They also expect the people around them to automatically comply with their every wish and whim. That is their only value. If you don’t anticipate and meet their every need, then you’re useless. And if you have the nerve to defy their will or “selfishly” ask for something in return, prepare yourself for aggression, outrage, or the cold shoulder.
now look up miserable hater & see who that sounds like
Would that be you???
So, fulfilling a probably contractual obligation in promoting an “Amazon Prime Day” is considered Narcissistic behavior? When was that added to the DSM-III?
Since when did Amazon acquire The Associated Press??? And if you’re going to reference the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, at least get the version right. We’re in the DSM-V now. DSM-III was put out to pasture in 1994.
Read the interview. The questions were part of a promotional tour for Amazon Prime Days. He has some sort of line distributed by them. How is that Narcissistic?
Bingo maddog. Don’t tell these guys about the pro LeBron talking heads on the tele who are under the same representation as LeBron. Hello, Rich Paul Klutch Sports.
This probably isn’t his best game all-time but it’s def top5. Bron was still looking for title #1 & was in danger of going down 3-1 to a hungry Pacers team in this crucial road gm4. Him & DWade were completely dominant & carried them to this huge W. If he loses this game his career might look a lot different. The haters (you guys) were so thirsty for him to fall down & he gave this great performance. Legend ts… link to m.youtube.com
Gotta go back to the beginning when he shined like the star he is in his 1st ever espn game. Youngster absolutely dominated Oak Hill who was the #1 ranked hs team at the time, showing all of the same skills & gifts that continue to make him great today.. link to m.youtube.com
Bron authoring 1 of the greatest NBA performances that no one ever talks about. Ray Allen’s huge corner 3 saved their season but Miami still had to beat SAS in OT of gm6 & again in gm7. That’s where Bron came in. He hit the big shots in OT of gm6 & had 1 of his best games ever in gm7. I wanna say he was like 5-10 from trey & crucially knocked down the title winning shot over Kawhi w/ like 30secs to go. 37pt performance for the goat.. link to m.youtube.com
Hopefully nobody forgets that Bron was the best player at the Olympics last year. And that’s not even including him putting team USA on his back & carrying them past Germany in this exhibition a few weeks before the Olympics… link to m.youtube.com
Bro has had some truly great games in Atl but he waited til the day he turned 39yo to have his best one. This was just incredible to watch in real time. Highlights don’t really do it justice… link to m.youtube.com
Toronto was the clear #1 team in the East & was built specifically to beat a Bron-led team w/ guys like Siakam/OG/Powell to slow him down. Bron didn’t care about that tho & proceeded to dominate & sweep then out of the playoffs, eliminating them for the 3rd straight yr. Bron was great in gm1 & hit the gw shot at the buzzer to win it. He was even better in this 1 (gm2). This is another top 5 game in his career imo. 43pts 14asts, a bunch of rebs & great defense smh unreal… link to m.youtube.com
I still think he can play at a higher level than most, but I’m not a believer in a constant increase to his salary as his skills slowly diminish. To a certain extent he is hurting his team by kneecapping their cap space.
I new it….awfully touchy on the Bron subject per usual for the Warriors fans, lol. Bandwagon much? Closet Laker fans. Be back supporting the lakers soon as Steph is done.
Umm…Who kept criticizing me about rooting for the Warriors saying that they are “not legit contenders”? I still don’t understand why that upset you so much.
Nice switch up. You’re a bandwagon warrior and laker fan. Explains the Boston issue you have, lol.
What Boston issue? When have I criticized the Celtics? When did I root for the Lakers?
I have to believe LeBron wants to be the all-time games played leader. He also should end up #1 in field goals made.