LeBron James’ agent says he “will play for two or three more years”

LeBron James will take a few months before deciding his future and signing, what seems to be, his last contract in the NBA. The legendary basketball icon has a ‘player option’ to trigger an extension to return to the Lakers for the 2024/25 season, in exchange for $51.4 million. However, according to several reports, his intention will be to opt for the free agency.

The idea is to sign one last contract since he does not have much time left in the best basketball league in the world and he wants to negotiate for a few more years with the Los Angeles franchise. The idea of playing on the same team as his oldest son, Bronny, seems distant because he has not stood out at the University of Southern California.

“I need to be on the floor with my boy,” LeBron told ESPN in January 2023. “I got to be on the floor with Bronny. Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him...I don’t mean like guarding one another all game - because he’s a point guard and I’m a - at this point now I’m playing center or whatever the team needs from me. But I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure.”

“Body wise, 5 years... mind wise, 2 to 3 years”

After being eliminated from the 2024 NBA Playoffs by the Denver Nuggets, it was LeBron James himself who went to social media to tell fans that he has not yet made a decision regarding his future in the sport. It is not known if The King will return for one more season with the Lakers or whether he will sit down to negotiate a new contract that binds him to the side for the longer term.

The sad truth is that time waits for nobody and LeBron James has around two or three years left in the top basketball league in the world. This was confirmed by the agent of the 39-year-old, Rich Paul, on the ‘All The Smoke’ podcast although he admitted that LeBron is indeed capable of playing for much longer.

“I think body wise, five (years),” Paul said. “Mind wise, understanding how to play the game mind wise, forever. But mind wise as is pertains to frustration and/or just like man, I’ve had enough, missing time with his family and his wife, because they’re been unbelievable.”

“They’re been an unbelievable support system. At some point, it’s got to be about them. And I think from that perspective, maybe 2-3 (years)”, he concluded.

LeBron himself said “Not very long,” when asked by reporters recently, “I’m not gonna play another 21 years, that’s for damn sure. But not very long. I don’t know when that door will close as far as when I’ll retire. But I don’t have much time left.”