Despite making comments over All-Star weekend that seemed to indicate he could envision finishing his career back in Cleveland, LeBron James now says he sees himself remaining with the Lakers “as long as I can play.”
“This is a franchise I see myself being with. I'm here. I'm here," James said after the Lakers' 105-102 loss to the LA Clippers, per ESPN.com. “I see myself being with the purple and gold as long as I can play.”
The 37-year-old star has one year remaining with the Lakers, and is eligible to sign a two-year extension worth more than $97 million this summer. He reiterated his plan to play with his son, Bronny, beginning 2024, when the now 17-year-old Bronny will be eligible for the NBA Draft and when the elder James will turn 40.
“I also have a goal that, if it's possible — I don't even know if it's possible — that if I can play with my son, I would love to do that,” said James. “Is that, like, something that any man shouldn't want that in life? That's like the coolest thing that could possibly happen. That doesn't mean I don't want to be with this franchise.”
In order for that to happen, the Lakers would have to draft Bronny — ranked the No. 34 prospect in the Class of 2023 per the 247Sports.com Composite rankings. Alternatively, another team could draft Bronny and LeBron could work out an arrangement to join that team in free agency.
Over All-Star weekend, James seemed to indicate he could imagine a third go-round in Cleveland down the road, telling The Athletic, “The door’s not closed on that.”
James began his career in Cleveland and then returned after winning two titles with the Miami Heat and led the Cavaliers to the NBA championship in 2016.
He also told The Athletic: “My last year will be played with my son. ... Wherever Bronny is at, there's where I'll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It's not about the money at that point."
But in clarifying his comments, he said that he meant he could potentially just sign with the Cavaliers for one day so he could retire with them.
“I never said I could see myself playing in a Cavaliers uniform,” he said. “I talked to Jason Lloyd [of The Athletic] and he asked me, and I said, ‘Well, I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but actually me playing for the Cavs, I don’t know about that.’ Could I see myself retiring as a Cav and he asked me, ‘Well, would you just come here and retire as a Cav?’ and I said, ‘That possibly could be.”
James also clarified that he has no plans to seek changes in Lakers management and is “very confident” in them despite the team’s struggles. They are currently 27-32 and the No. 9 seed in the West.
“Ever since I got here, the front office of Jeanie [Buss], Linda [Rambis], Kurt [Rambis], everybody has welcomed me with open arms and has given me an opportunity to play for a historical franchise and welcomed my family in,” he said. “And I just try to give back my part of the game and inspire kids and inspire people that want to follow the Lakers and put them back at a level that they're accustomed to being. And that's always been my focus."
