EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The question drew a wry laugh from LeBron James.
Does he intend to try to stiff-arm Father Time long enough to play alongside both of his sons? Could he envision a scenario where he extends his NBA career deep enough into his 40s to share a court with not only Bronny but also 18-year-old Bryce?
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“No, I’m not waiting on Bryce,” James said Monday at Lakers Media Day. “He has his own timeline. I’ve got my timeline. I don’t know if they quite match up.”
That was emblematic of the tone James struck during a 15-minute conversation with reporters on the eve of his 23rd NBA training camp. The 40-year-old did not commit to playing beyond this season. He insisted he still doesn’t know when he’ll retire but acknowledged it’s “a lot sooner than later.”
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As a result, James described himself as “super-excited” and “super-invested” about a season during which he’ll partner with Luka Dončić to chase the Lakers’ 18th championship. James intends to savor even the most mundane moments as he nears the end of a glittering career that has straddled three different decades.
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“I’m trying to stay present knowing that the end is soon,” James said. “Not taking for granted a Tuesday night in a city that maybe I don’t want to be in that night. Let’s lock in because I don’t know how many more times I’ll have the opportunity to play the game or compete.”
A motivated, enthusiastic James is a welcome development for the Lakers after a summer of cryptic social media posts, enigmatic statements and declined interview requests. There were times his future with the Lakers felt uncertain after the franchise chose in late June not to extend his contract beyond this season.
For the first 20-plus years of his NBA career, James was the center of his franchise’s universe, the rare superstar whose boundless influence extended to front-office decisions. As recently as 15 months ago, he coaxed the Lakers into using a second-round draft pick on Bronny when the USC product otherwise would have gone unselected.
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Everything changed last January when Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison invited Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka to coffee to gauge his interest in a blockbuster trade that would jolt the rest of the NBA. By February 1, Dončić was a Laker and James was suddenly no longer the cornerstone of all the team’s roster building strategy.
The transition became more stark this offseason after the Lakers ascended to No. 3 in the West but failed to advance beyond the opening round of the NBA playoffs. Dončić solidified his status as the new face of the Lakers when he made a long-term commitment to the organization, signing a three-year, $165 million contract extension. The Lakers chose not to make a similar offer to James, prioritizing contract flexibility beyond this season over committing to a legend who will turn 41 in December.
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“Optionality,” as Pelinka so often describes it, was the Lakers’ offseason priority while building a supporting cast around Dončić and James. They did not intend to mortgage all their assets in a desperate attempt to go all-in on what could be James’ final season. They preferred short-term free agent signings in hopes of improving this year’s roster without sacrificing future flexibility.
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That two-timeline approach inspired a strongly worded response from James’ agent, Rich Paul, when James opted into the final year of his contract in late June. Paul told ESPN in a statement that James would evaluate what’s best for himself after closely monitoring the Lakers’ moves to see whether the team was positioning itself as a title contender.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul said. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all.”
That statement set the NBA ablaze with speculation about James’ future. Then James further stoked the flames with a series of social media posts referencing his previous stints with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Did it mean anything when LeBron posted a video of himself golfing in the Cleveland area on July 2 What about two days later when he when reposting a photo of Lakers team broadcaster and Cleveland native Allie Clifton wearing a Cavaliers jersey?
Whatever the answer, James wasn’t saying.
“I ain’t got nothing to talk about,” the Lakers star on July 12 when the ESPN reporter approached him for an interview during a Lakers Summer League game.
In the end, James’ decision to opt into the final year of his contract spoke the loudest. Had he truly wanted to leave the Lakers, he could have declined his player option, hit free agency and had his pick of teams constructed to win now. By opting in, he guaranteed himself the most money possible but sacrificed leverage and control.
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When asked Monday about the roster that the Lakers assembled around him and Dončić, James insisted he felt good about it. He heaped praise on Pelinka’s three biggest free agent acquisitions, highlighting Deandre Ayton’s skill and athleticism, Jake LaRavia’s shooting and ball-handling and Marcus Smart’s unselfish, team-first mentality.
James’ biggest reason for optimism entering this season is that he and Dončić have an entire training camp to figure out how to play together. As Dončić put it earlier on Media Day, “Me and LeBron, I think we’re the leaders of this group. Us communicating, practicing some things on the floor, I think that will help us a lot.”
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Why is LeBron still playing at age 40? He cited several factors. He’s still playing at an All-NBA level. He has the chance to pursue an NBA title alongside Dončić. And, above all else, he is still enjoying the day-to-day grind of trying to be the best version of himself.
“The thing that’s still pushing me is the fact that the love of the game is still high and the love of the process is even higher,” James said. “That’s what continues to push me to play this game. It’s really that simple.”
It remains to be seen if that’s enough to coax LeBron to play beyond this season. When asked if reporters would see him at Lakers media day again next fall, James laughed once more and said only, “Maybe.”
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