Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been in the NBA since 2003. If he plays next season (which he’s expected to do), James will become the first player in NBA history to play 23 years in the league.
During an interview with The Associated Press, James said his three kids have never pressured him to retire from the NBA.
“They’re like, ‘Dad, continue on with your dream. This is your dream. Continue on your focus. You’ve been here for us this whole time.’ When you have that type of support… it makes it a lot easier,” James said.
James’ player option for next season is worth $52,627,153. He’s expected to pick it up.
The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of this year’s playoffs in five games. James, 40, averaged 25.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks in the five-game series. He suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee in Game 5.
“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.
James is the oldest active player in the NBA. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks for the Lakers this season in 70 games.
After playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-15 to 2017-18, James signed with the Lakers in the summer of 2018 as an unrestricted free agent.
Los Angeles missed the playoffs in 2019, won the championship in 2020, lost in the first round of the 2021 playoffs, missed the playoffs in 2022, lost in the conference finals in 2023 and lost in the first round of the 2024 and 2025 playoffs.
Arguably the greatest player of all time, James has played for the Cavaliers (twice), Miami Heat and Lakers. He has career averages of 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks.
James is the leading scorer in NBA history.
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