INGLEWOOD, Calif. — LeBron James acknowledged Sunday that he has not decided whether he will return for a 24th NBA campaign, telling reporters he is focused on his health and the Los Angeles Lakers’ postseason push.
“I want to live,” the 41-year-old said before taking part in his 22nd All-Star Game. “When I know, you guys will know. I don’t know. I have no idea.”
James avoided detailed discussion about possible retirement or post-playing plans, though he reiterated his interest in joining an NBA ownership group someday. Commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday that the league’s board of governors will consider expansion and ownership issues in March, a timetable James noted but downplayed. “Right now I’m still locked in on what’s going on right now, our season,” he said.
The four-time MVP is completing the final year of his contract, worth $52.6 million. He emphasized that personal uncertainty is not distracting the team as it prepares for the stretch run. “It’s gearing up toward the postseason—same motivation, same mind-set,” he said. “We’ve got past the marathon, and now the sprint is about to start.”
Los Angeles enters the break 33-21, fifth in the Western Conference. Through 54 games the Lakers have scored and surrendered an identical 6,264 points. “When we’ve played some of our best basketball this season, we look very good,” James said. “On the other side, when we’ve been terrible, we’ve looked disgusting.”
Health remains the team’s primary concern. James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been available together for only 10 games, during which the Lakers went 7-3. Doncic, sidelined for the past four contests with a mild hamstring strain, plans to log limited minutes in Sunday night’s exhibition. James and Reaves are healthy, positioning Los Angeles to be at full strength when it resumes play Friday against the LA Clippers.
“Our success is going to come down to our health,” James said, crediting the coaching staff for its preparations but stressing the need for consistent lineups. The roster has undergone recent changes, adding Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia and, most recently, Luke Kennard. “It’s too hard to really say what we’re capable of,” James cautioned.
Source: ESPN
