LeBron James Aiming For At Least Four More Years, All With Lakers

LeBron James thinks he still has plenty of basketball left, and if not plenty, then at least four more seasons.

James, 36, said on the Smartless podcast that he wants to retire with the Lakers. And based on the timeline he gave, he’ll be retiring no sooner than the age of 40.

“I truly hope that I can finish my career with the Lakers,” James on Smartless. “And how many years that is, if it’s 4, 5, 6, 7 … I love being in LA, my family loves being in L.A.”

James turns 37 on the final day of December. This past season, he averaged 25.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists, but missed a career-high 27 games.

His scoring average was the lowest since his rookie season of 2003-04 and the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. He averaged a career-postseason-low of 23.3 points in six games, as the Lakers were eliminated by the eventual Western Conference-champion Suns.

Some opposing executives have told Hoops Wire in recent weeks they envision James being able to play until 45 if he makes the shift to power forward within the next couple of seasons.