Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, celebrating his 40th birthday Monday, said he’ll play five to seven more years in the NBA at a high-powered level — though he acknowledged he’ll likely retire before then. The basketball superstar, speaking after a Lakers practice session, also said he plans to finish his NBA career with the Lakers and not return after leaving the league — whenever that will be.
When asked what might have made him decide to retire, James declared that lack of competition would not be a factor.
“It won’t happen because I can’t play this game at a high level,” James said. “Honestly, if I really wanted to, I could play this game at a high level for another five to seven years if I wanted to, but I’m not going to do that.”
James, in his record-tying 22nd NBA campaign, is averaging 23.5 points, 9.0 assists and 7.9 rebounds a game while shooting 49.6 percent from the floor.
He won his third Olympic gold medal with the US team of NBA stars in Paris this year and, after starting in the NBA as an 18-year-old rookie, now has a 20-year-old son as an NBA teammate.
James is a four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, a 20-time NBA All-Star and the all-time NBA record holder for most points and games played in a career.
James said he wants to play out his career with the Lakers.
“I think that’s the plan,” James said. “I want to finish here. That will be the plan. I came here to play the last stage of my career.
“I think my relationship with this organization speaks for itself. Hopefully I don’t have to go anywhere before my career is over.”
Once he’s gone, James said, there will be no comeback attempts, as was the case with superstar Michael Jordan.
“No, no, no, no, no. But I sure do miss the hell out of it,” James said. “But no, I won’t leave and then come back.”
For his career, James averaged 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals over 1,520 games.
(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and appeared on a syndicated feed.)
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