Feb 23, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers
(Los Angeles, CA) — Lebron James has ended his self-created retirement speculation.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar forward announced during the ESPYS that he will continue playing basketball.
“I don’t care how many more points I score, or what I can or cannot do on the floor,” James said at the awards show. “The real question for me is: Can I play without cheating this game? The day I can’t give everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done.
“Lucky for you guys, that day is not today.”
After the Lakers were swept out of the Western Conference finals by Denver Nuggets, the 38-year-old explained he has “a lot to think about.”
“We’ll see, we’ll see what happens going forward,” James said after the Lakers’ loss. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest. Just for me, going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about. Appreciate it.”
It’s not like anyone ever thought James would call the quits yet. Despite an injury riddled 2022-23 campaign, the four-time NBA champion averaged 28.9 points and 8.3 rebounds while passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time leading scorer.
Lebron also has emphatically stated his intentions to play in the NBA with his son, Bronny, who commited to USC for this upcoming season.
