LeBRON JAMES turned 40 this week and remains the face of the NBA and among the league’s top players.
The Los Angeles Lakers star has faced retirement questions for half a decade but believes he has plenty of gas in the tank – should he continue.
LeBron James spoke about his career and future having turned 40 GettyLeBron and Bronny James became the first father-son duo in the NBA[/caption]James is averaging 23.5 points, 9 assists and 8.9 rebounds with the Lakers sitting fifth in the Western Conference.
The King teased his millions-strong global fan base by stating he could still perform in the NBA for up to SEVEN more years… if he wanted to.
He told reporters: “To be honest, 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.
“But I’m not going to do that.”
James is already the NBA‘s highest-ever points scorer, the only player to reach 40,000 points and only the second player, after Vince Carter, to play in 22 seasons.
He will become the 32 second player to play a game in his 40s and he has four titles, four MVPs, 20 All-Star selections, 20 All-NBA selections and three Olympic gold medals.
In short, there is little left for him to achieve in his career.
LeBron previously stated his final goal was to play alongside his son, Bronny, in an NBA game – which he achieved on opening night, becoming the first father-son duo to do so.
Asked what it feels like to be 40, he replied: “I had a decade of the 30s, so to just wake up and just be like, ‘Oh shoot, oh damn, you’re 40?’
“It’s kind of laughable, really, to know where I am, to see where I am still playing the game at a high level, still being such a young man but old in the scheme of how many years I got in this profession.”
He added: “You came in as an 18-year-old kid and now you’re sitting here as a 40-year-old, 22-year vet with a 20-year-old in the NBA, as well,” James said Monday. “So, it’s pretty cool.”
His last remaining motivation is to win an elusive fifth championship.
James was asked if winning another title would keep him around for a further season to defend it.
“You ask that question, the first person I thought about was Jason Kelce.
“Earlier this year, he had a sit-down with [Philadelphia Eagles quarterback] Jalen Hurts talking about that same factor, the fact that they are extremely good this year and ‘have you had the thought of coming back and maybe not retiring?’
“Of course [he has]. But he’s very happy with the decision he’s made.”
Last week, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka made a bold trade to try and solidify his team’s position as playoff contenders, moving D’Angelo Russell, xxx and three second round draft picks for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
The Lakers still have their first round picks and another trade has been mooted to try and maximize their championship chances during LeBron’s remaining window.
“Right now, I think we’re a very good team,” James said about the Lakers.
“I think we have a chance to compete with anybody in the league.
“Are we at a championship level? Can we win a championship right now? No, I don’t think so.
“But that’s good because we have so much room for improvement.
“I don’t know if that determines if I stick around longer because it doesn’t change my career in any sense or fashion.”
While his future plans remain unclear, James did make it clear that he intends to retire a Laker.
He said: “That’s the plan. 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 … [not] 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.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( LeBron James makes bold retirement claim after turning 40 years old and calls NBA career ‘kind of laughable’ )
Also on site :