The end has never been closer for LeBron James‘ historic NBA career, but he may still have some time left before it’s all said and done. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, James wants to play for two more seasons in the league and the Lakers want him to spend them on their roster, playing alongside his own son after drafting him in the second round this summer.
“LeBron James wants to play up until two more NBA seasons,” revealed Shams. “The Lakers want to bring him back, and want to bring in Bronny James in the second round. They are going to start coaching interviews next week. I would look at names like Kenny Atkinson, Reddick, and David Adelman. LeBron wants to see what moves the Lakers make before his player option.”
With a player option for the 2024-25 campaign, LeBron can either extend his contract for another year or opt-out now and become a free agent this summer. At 39 years old, it’s no secret that LeBron is thinking more and more about retirement and this offseason is a big opportunity for him to set up the final act of his career.
By staying with the Lakers, and encouraging them to draft Bronny in the second round, LeBron could spend his final two years fulfilling his longtime dream of sharing the NBA court with his own flesh and blood. He could also personally ensure a smooth transition for his son, who is still looking to prove himself as an NBA prospect.
With LeBron James, Bronny, and Anthony Davis, the Lakers could still remain somewhat relevant in the West, even if they are no longer among the favorites to win it all.
Despite the drawbacks of such a plan, the Lakers seem intent on following this path all the way through, and it will be interesting to see how it ends up for them when it’s time to build the roster this summer.
Bronny James Is On The Way
After suffering a cardiac arrest in the offseason, Bronny James’ college debut was already off to a bad start and there’s no doubt it set him back months of progress on the court. When he finally did return to action it’s no surprise that he failed to impress with averages of 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game on 36% shooting.
Bronny looked a step slow out there for USC and by the end of his freshmen campaign, critics were wondering if he might be better off staying an extra year or two to refine and enhance his game.
Instead, James headed to the transfer portal this past summer and officially began the process of making the leap to the NBA. While Bronny is projected to be an early second-round pick, at best, LeBron’s apparent desire to play with him has made James Jr. an interesting and potentially franchise-altering prospect this year.
Some critics have spoken out on Bronny joining forces with his father, but it seems inevitable now given how much noise has been made on the subject. If the Lakers have a chance to take him with their pick this year, don’t be surprised if Bronny ends up as his father’s teammate from the very start.
Regardless, this is not the last we’ve seen of the King in the modern NBA and there’s still time for him to add even more numbers to his historically great resume.
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