Lakers’ LeBron James: Not Sure When I’ll Retire But ‘I Don’t Have Much Time Left’

Julia StumbaughApril 1, 2024

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, who recorded a career-high-tying nine three-pointers during Sunday’s win Brooklyn Nets, says the time he has left in the NBA is “not very long.”

“I’m not gonna play another 21 years, that’s for damn sure,” James said after Sunday’s win, per The Athletic’s Jovan Buha. “But, not very long. I don’t know when that door will close as far when I’ll retire, but I don’t have much time left.”

Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaLeBron James on how long he expects to continue playing in the NBA: “Not very long. … 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.” pic.twitter.com/OtJzM6cheI

James racked up 40 points while adding seven rebounds and five assists in the Lakers’ 116-104 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

The Lakers star, who turned 39 in December, has a $54.1 million player option on his contract for the 2024-25 season.

After the option, James is currently set to become an unrestricted free agent following the end of the 2024-25 season.

James is averaging over 25 points per game for the 20th straight season during a campaign that led him to become the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 points.

Because he’s been in the league since age 18, James has been an NBA player for longer than he hasn’t been an NBA player, as noted by USA Today’s Jim Sergent and Ramon Padilla.

James told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin in January 2023 that he wanted to wait to retire until he was able to play with his son, Bronny, who recently finished his freshman season at USC.

That was before Bronny suffered cardiac arrest during a summer workout, leading to emergency surgery and a delay to his USC debut. He finished the season having averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 assists in 19.3 minutes through 25 games, mostly off the bench.

James’ son has not yet decided whether he will be entering the 2024 draft, with his agent Rich Paul saying it depends on which teams are interested in drafting him, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Bronny’s future in the NBA, it remains to be seen if his draft year will influence James’ decision to sign a new contract.

For now, the Lakers will hope James chooses to keep playing in Los Angeles next season. The option decision deadline is June 29, according to Spotrac.