LeBron James has had an incredible NBA career, and that journey could be nearing its end. However, the quest for a championship never truly fades for James. Even as he approaches the twilight of his career, winning remains his top priority.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
The biggest question surrounding James now is how much he has left in the tank. Former teammate Markieff Morris believes LeBron still has several years to go before even thinking about retirement.
“What’s he right now 41, 42? He for sure can play until 46,” Morris said about James on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast. “That’s for a fact, that’s factual. He’s 42 and he’s still having the best years of his career, at 42.”
Not everyone shares that optimism. Longtime rival Paul Pierce believes this could be LeBron’s final season. Tensions between James and the Lakers have sparked rumors of a potential exit, and some insiders believe there’s a real possibility he could play elsewhere.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha explained how certain developments could shift the odds of James leaving.
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“I think one thing that could shift this potentially to a 75/25 is asking, 'is this LeBron's last season?' How important is it getting the swan song in L.A. and finishing his legacy as a Laker, or competing for a championship. Two things would have to happen, in my opinion, for this to drastically change. He announces he’s retiring after this year, and then the Lakers are, for whatever reason, underperforming around the deadline,” Buha wrote.
If James does announce that this will be his final season, a contending team might take a swing at acquiring him for one last championship run. But that would come with major risk. While such a move may seem unlikely, if LeBron issues a strong enough ultimatum, it could force someone’s hand.