Basketball
LeBron James is one of the greatest players in NBA history, and he continues to play at an elite level at 41 years old.
Still, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar knows he cannot play forever and has offered some insight into when he will know it is time to retire from the NBA.
Basketball LeBron James Opens Up on NBA Retirement Decision
James’ future remains one of the biggest talking points in the NBA this offseason. The four-time NBA champion will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and is weighing up whether to return to the Lakers, move to a different franchise, or retire from basketball.
James was asked about what factors might prompt him to walk away from basketball, and he revealed that he will call it quits when his mind falls out of love with the game.
“It’s up to the mind. Where the mind goes, the body will lay,” James said in an interview with Time Magazine. “When I’m not in love with getting to the arenas on game days five hours before to start my preparation, if I’m out of love with getting to practice 2½ hours beforehand, then I know I’ll be done. Because then I’m going to start cheating the game.”
Despite playing an NBA record 23 seasons, James feels he still has a lot to offer and remains deeply in love with the sport.
“Hell yeah. I’m sitting here talking to you. I don’t have a voice, I’ve got practice in an hour. You think I’m not having fun still? I could have my a** at home, with a hot pack on my throat, having a f***ing hot toddy and some scrambled eggs,” he added.
James was named “Athlete of the Century” by Time Magazine in its inaugural TIME100 Sports list. Other athletes featured on the list include Lionel Messi, Stephen Curry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Victor Wembanyama, and A’ja Wilson.
Meanwhile, speculation continues about LeBron’s future, even though he is not expected to make a final decision until July. The Lakers are likely to offer him a new contract, while a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers has also been rumored. The Golden State Warriors also loom as a threat to sign James away from Los Angeles.
James played a key role in helping the Lakers secure the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference this year, averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game. He stepped up in the playoffs and led the Lakers past the Houston Rockets in the first round despite playing without Luka Dončić, but Los Angeles ultimately lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round. Now, all eyes are on James to see what his future holds.
Read More Tushar Bahl