LeBron James shares retirement ‘plan’ and makes | NBA News

When the time comes for LeBron James to retire, he insists it will not be attributable to ‘father time’ catching up with him. The legendary NBA scorer envisions himself taking part in top-tier basketball for an further 5-7 years and he is eager to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, though he recognises the unpredictable nature of the game.

“I think that’s the plan,” James admitted when discussing his future with the group. “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, who signed for the Lakers in 2018, was instrumental in clinching the NBA title during the 2020 bubble season and has penned a number of contract extensions since becoming a member of the LA squad. However, their performances post-championship have been a rollercoaster, with playoff disappointments and efforts to claw back supremacy within the extremely aggressive Western Conference proving uneven.

While below the steerage of first-year head coach JJ Redick, the Lakers have managed a respectable 18-13 file, stringing collectively back-to-back wins towards the Warriors and Kings. James himself scored a team-high 31 factors towards Golden State earlier than sitting out the Sacramento sport attributable to illness.

With a conflict towards his former group, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on the horizon, LeBron expressed confidence in his capability to take care of elite efficiency ranges for years to come back.

Speaking of the prospect of retirement, James defined: “It won’t be because I can’t play this game at a high level. 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.”

Since becoming a member of in 2018, James has not solely reinvigorated the franchise with a championship but in addition solid a deep bond with the group. This connection was additional cemented after they chosen his son, Bronny James, because the No. 55 decide within the NBA Draft, fulfilling the dream of taking part in alongside his son and ticking off an merchandise on his NBA bucket checklist.

While some speculate that Bronny’s draft would possibly signal LeBron’s ultimate chapters, the four-time NBA MVP insists his profession’s size will rely on his bodily and mental state.

“It’s all up to my body, but more importantly, my mind,” he remarked previous to Bronny’s draft. “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.”