LeBron James has spoken out about his NBA future.

LeBron James

LeBron James has spoken about his retirement plans (Image: Getty)

When the time comes for LeBron James to retire, he insists it won’t be due to ‘father time’ catching up with him. The legendary NBA scorer envisions himself playing top-tier basketball for an additional 5-7 years and he’s keen to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers, although he recognises the unpredictable nature of the sport.

“I think that’s the plan,” James admitted when discussing his future with the team. “I would love to end here. That would be the plan. I mean, I came here to play my last days of my career and to finish it off here. But I’m also not too silly or jaded to know the business of the game as well.”

James, who signed for the Lakers in 2018, was instrumental in clinching the NBA title during the 2020 bubble season and has penned several contract extensions since joining the LA squad. However, their performances post-championship have been a rollercoaster, with playoff disappointments and efforts to claw back supremacy in the highly competitive Western Conference proving uneven.

While under the guidance of first-year head coach JJ Redick, the Lakers have managed a respectable 18-13 record, stringing together back-to-back wins against the Warriors and Kings. James himself scored a team-high 31 points against Golden State before sitting out the Sacramento game due to sickness.

With a clash against his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on the horizon, LeBron expressed confidence in his ability to maintain elite performance levels for years to come.

Cleveland Cavaliers v Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James is keen to remain with the LA Lakers (Image: Getty)

Speaking of the prospect of retirement, James explained: “It won’t be because I can’t play this game at a high level. It won’t be because of that. To be honest, if I wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level for probably about 5 to 7 years. But I’m not going to do that.”

Since joining in 2018, James has not only reinvigorated the franchise with a championship but also forged a deep bond with the team. This connection was further cemented when they selected his son, Bronny James, as the No. 55 pick in the NBA Draft, fulfilling the dream of playing alongside his son and ticking off an item on his NBA bucket list.

LeBron James/Bronny James

LeBron James spoke about playing alongside his son Bronny James (Image: Getty)

While some speculate that Bronny’s draft might signal LeBron’s final chapters, the four-time NBA MVP insists his career’s length will depend on his physical and mental state.

“It’s all up to my body, but more importantly, my mind,” he remarked prior to Bronny’s draft. “If my mind can stay sharp and fresh and motivated, then the sky’s not even a limit for me. I can go beyond that. But we shall see.”