LeBron James, now 39, is gearing up for what may be his final two seasons as a player in the NBA before transitioning to an ownership role. According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, LeBron’s current focus is on fulfilling a few key goals before stepping away from the court.
"There's a deadline for him to walk away and I'm going to tell you what it is here in a second. But first we have to acknowledge that if you're 39 years old, of course you're year to year. You have no idea what injuries could happen or whatever."
"I think in any sport that would be the case. So yes, if you say it's year to year and his contracts are structured that way, absolutely. However, he just played the most games he's played as a Laker. This last season he played 71 games."
"That's the most since 2018. He was spectacular this season, 26 points, setting seven rebounds or eight rebounds, seven assists. He had a great year, no doubt. He had one of the best shooting years of his career. His defensive situation is not great, but you know, he can still turn it on occasionally."
"His son just signed a four-year contract. You know, his son's not going year to year. So I don't think his intention is to only play one more year, acknowledging that it could be out of his hands. So LeBron has very clearly laid out with his words and actions what his checklist is."
"He wants to be a Laker, regardless of how he gets frustrated when they don't make moves or whatever. He keeps signing contracts with the Lakers. He's about to enter his seventh year there. That's the longest run he's had with any team. He's changed teams all these times. He's clearly a Laker. He's not going anywhere."
"That's number one. Number two, he made it very clear he wanted to play with his son. Well, he's a Laker. He's got the max money. He's playing with his son. Checkmark, checkmark."
Despite his age, LeBron's performance remains impressive. This past season, he played 71 games, the most since joining the Lakers in 2018, and averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. His physical fitness and ability to deliver high-level performances suggest he can continue playing effectively for at least a couple more years.
LeBron's son, Bronny James, recently signed a four-year contract with the Lakers , aligning with LeBron's long-expressed desire to play alongside his son. This milestone is a significant checkmark on LeBron's career checklist. Additionally, LeBron has made it clear that he intends to stay with the Lakers, a franchise he has been committed to longer than any other in his career.
"What is the next thing that he wants? What has he made clear, very clearly, that is after playing with his son? He wants to be the owner of the coming expansion team in Las Vegas."
"So the biggest thing other than health that we're going to see that is going to determine when the end of LeBron's career is, is when the owners of the league set forth a timeline about when they're going to establish that expansion team in Las Vegas."
"Now nothing is assured and they keep putting that asterisk on everything, but I suspect once the TV rights deals get wrapped up, which should be this summer sometime, and they have that done. They have the CBA done, the TV deal done. They've extended Adam Silver's contract."
"They're going to bring expansion to the table and they're going to probably pick a year in which that's going to be. It won't be next season, so it'll probably at the earliest be two years from now. And that's what I think LeBron will be focused on. He wants to join up with partners to become the face of the franchise in Las Vegas."
"Whether or not that will happen, a lot of stuff has to happen. There's a lot of money things, a lot of complicated things that we can't foresee. But that's his next move. And if he can play three years, if it's not going to be for three years before there's an expansion team in Las Vegas, or he doesn't land the expansion team, then we'll reevaluate it."
"But I think he's still got a lot to give to the Lakers and a lot to give to the NBA, and he will continue to do that."
Looking ahead, LeBron's ambitions extend beyond his playing days. He has expressed a keen interest in becoming an NBA team owner , specifically targeting the anticipated expansion team in Las Vegas.
With the NBA likely to discuss expansion plans following the finalization of new TV rights deals and the extension of Commissioner Adam Silver’s contract, the establishment of a new team could become a reality in the next few years. LeBron aims to lead this new venture, leveraging his immense influence and resources to become the face of the Las Vegas franchise.
This timeline suggests that LeBron plans to remain active in the NBA as a player until the expansion details are solidified, which could be within the next two to three years. His ultimate goal is to transition smoothly from player to owner, continuing his impact on the league from a different capacity.
While the specifics of the expansion and ownership remain complex and involve various financial and logistical challenges, LeBron's determination and strategic planning position him well for this transition. For now, Lakers fans can look forward to at least two more years of LeBron's contributions on the court, with the prospect of his continued involvement in the NBA as an owner on the horizon.
Related: LeBron James Could Reportedly Take $1M Below The Max To Help The Lakers In Free Agency
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