Does LeBron James want to end his NBA career with the Lakers?

Posted by author December 31, 2024 NBA

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For most men, things feel different by the time they turn 40 years of age. Joints and body parts hurt more, their energy levels drop and they’re more likely to give into conformity and the tendency or expectation to “settle down” and give up youthful activities.

But for LeBron James, nothing apparently changed for him when he reached age 40 on Monday. His beard may have speckles of grey, but he continues to play at a superstar level, and the end of that level of viability for him may not come very soon.

He said on Monday that he feels he can play “at a high level” for another five to seven years, but that he won’t play in the NBA for that long. But he did say that his plan has been to finish his basketball career where he is right now — with the Los Angeles Lakers.

James is averaging 23.5 points, 9.0 assists and 7.9 rebounds a game while shooting 49.6% from the field and 35.7% from 3-point range this season. He has a player option on his contract for next season that he can turn down to become a free agent this summer, whether his plan is to indeed remain with the Lakers on a new contract or test the free agent market.

Los Angeles has won six of its last eight games, and there is a sense it may be figuring things out, especially after acquiring forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.