LeBron James gives timeline for potential retirement from basketball

On November 16, 2024By Littum

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is putting together another stellar statistical season.

Eleven games into his 22nd year in the NBA, the 39-year-old James is averaging 24.3 points, 9.4 assists and 8.1 rebounds on 52% shooting from the floor. The Lakers are 7-4 on the season.

Considering how well he’s playing, it’s hard to imagine James hanging it up anytime soon. But when asked how long he can continue to play at this level, James gave a thoughtful answer that revealed a potential retirement timeline.

“It’s not me, it’s the mind,” James explained Wednesday night. “No matter where my mind is, how the rest of my body is going to go or whatever it may be. I don’t know, I don’t want to play that much anymore to be honest. I don’t know how many year it is, if it’s one year, two years, whatever the case may be.

“But I said the other night I’m not playing until the wheels fall off. I’m not going to be that guy. I’m not going to be that guy that disrespects the game because I want to be out there on the floor. That’s not going to be me. “

“I don’t want to play that much anymore, to be honest … I don’t play until the wheels fall off.”

Bron says he only has maybe 1-2 years left pic.twitter.com/Z2gbimHnB6

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) 14 November 2024

ESPN basketball insider Shams Charania reported Thursday that next season could be James’ last in his storied career. However, Charania qualified his report by saying that James can wait to see if his younger son Bryce can make it to the NBA in the next few years.

James will look to continue his stellar play when the team travels to San Antonio on Friday to take on Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.