[ad_1]
INDIANAPOLIS — Hours before setting an NBA record with 20 consecutive All-Star Game starts, 39-year-old LeBron James said he has “not many” seasons left in his storied career.
“I don’t have a plan for how many seasons I have left, but I know it’s not going to be that many,” said James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, who is entering his 21st season.
James has a $51.4 million player option in his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, and previously signed with the same team as his son Bronny, who could enter the 2024 NBA Draft after his freshman season at USC. He said he had expressed a desire to play. “I’m a Laker. I’m happy to be a Laker for the last six years and I hope it stays that way.”
James’ latest comments follow what has become a near-annual tradition of him voicing mild dissatisfaction with the team he plays for at the trade deadline. This time, he posted an hourglass emoji on social media before the deadline, but refused to speculate on his contract status when asked last week.
“I don’t have an answer for how long or what uniform I’m going to wear,” James said Sunday of a possible retirement. “I hope it’s the Lakers, but the Lakers are a great organization and they have a lot of great guys. I don’t know how it’s going to end, but it’s going to end. It’s definitely coming.”
James is averaging 24.8 points, his lowest performance since his rookie season decades ago, but he is also dishing out 7.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game in 49 games. He missed the Lakers’ final game with his ankle injury on Wednesday, but said he would play in the NBA’s 73rd All-Star Game in Indianapolis on Sunday.
James has spoken openly about the decline in his career, which saw him win four titles and four NBA MVPs over two seasons in Cleveland, one in Miami, and the last six in Los Angeles, saying he was “50 years old.” ” he said. That way, he could enjoy a farewell season like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, or retire more abruptly. “Tim Duncan, that’s it,” James explained.
“Sometimes I wonder how my fans who have been on this journey with me for over 20 years have allowed me to give them that moment in which city and where they can give you flowers.” And that seems cool,” James said. “The other side is, I’ve never been very good at accepting my own praise. It’s so strange to me.
“We never really talked about it. For me, if I was going to go to every city…I don’t know how I’d feel. I don’t know if I’d feel great about it. . Maybe that’s the only child I have.”
James also reiterated his intention to join Team USA for this summer’s Paris Olympics, but predictably his health will affect whether he can play a pivotal role in his fourth Olympics. Admitted.
“At this point, I’m healthy enough to join the team and perform at the level I know I can perform,” James said. “But like you said, there’s still time in the season, there’s still a third of the regular season left. So in any case, we don’t know what the future holds in terms of the postseason. not.
“I can get more miles on these tires. But if I’m committed to Team USA, I’m willing to give my heart, body, and soul to Team USA. , represent and play our country with the utmost respect.”
as The Athletic First reported in mid-September, James was the lead recruiter for a 2024 team widely expected to boast serious star power. Star players such as Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum and Anthony Davis are also included in the program’s 41-man player pool, which will eventually be cut to 12 players. He knows there will be no shortage of elite help.
“One thing I know for sure is that I don’t have to carry the burden,” said James, who has two gold medals and one bronze medal. “I’ve never had to carry any baggage on any of the three teams I’ve been on, the 2004 team, the 2008 team, the 2012 team. I know I’m doing my best. Just practicing and trying to be as great as I can when I’m on the floor.
“We don’t know for sure what the full team will look like right now, but when you look at some of the names, you know there’s no need to feel pressured to go there and you feel like you have to lead the team. ing” . It will be a full 12-man roster that can play offensively or defensively at any time against any country in the world. ”
Must read
(Photo: James Boyd / The Athletic)
[ad_2]
Source link
