22 February 2023 , 13:06
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Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James hinted he could retire from the NBA in a ‘couple more’ years.
James recently surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer, dropping 38 against the Oklahoma City Thunder to move past the legend’s total of 38,387. The Milwaukee Bucks and Lakers icon had been atop the career points list since April 5 1984 - eight months before James was even born - when he passed the mark previously held by Wilt Chamberlain.
The 38-year-old has won four NBA championships while reaching the NBA Finals an incredible 10 times during his iconic career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and the Lakers. James has made a record 19 appearances in the NBA All-Star Game, while he is a four-time MVP amid a number of individual accolades.
The four-time NBA champion has previously insisted he wants to play at least one season with son Bronny in the league before calling time on his storied career. During the 2023 All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, the Lakers star was heard muttering comments on his future. “I got to slow down,” James says. “Couple more years.”
While this worried some fans over James’ potential retirement, others believe he is just getting ready to play with Bronny. A two-year timeline fits with when his son would be potentially playing in his rookie NBA season.
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Bronny - who stars as a guard for Sierra Canyon - will turn 19 in October. He will be one year removed from high school graduation in the summer of 2024, making him eligible to declare for the NBA Draft through the one-and-done rule.
LeBron James took part in a record-tying 19th All-Star Game on Sunday night (Getty Images)This means he could be on a roster for the 2024/25 season - but he still has to get through college. Bronny is nearing the end of his recruitment tour and the high school senior has reportedly narrowed his sights on three teams: Ohio State, USC, and Oregon. USC - the University of Southern California - and Oregon are out on the west coast where James lives as he plays for the Lakers, while the Buckeyes are near to where James grew up.
James is a passionate supporter of Ohio State, but Bronny attends Sierra Canyon which is around 30 miles from the USC campus. The three teams are Bronny’s reported finalists after the he confirmed his interest in them, but not each of them have sent him an offer - but James is not stressed about that as he told The Oregonian: “I think Bronny can go to any college he wants to. All I have to do is pick up the phone.
“If Bronny says he wants to go there, he’s good enough.”
James can opt out of the last year of his current deal with the Lakers and make himself an unrestricted free agent in the 2024 offseason. It would allow the 19-time All-Star to sign with any team - including the one that drafts Bronny.