Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently headed over to China for his “Forever King Tour,” and there he sat down for an interview with CGTN Sports Scene. When sharing some words of encouragement for kids chasing their basketball dreams, James expressed his love for the game.
“They don’t need to play basketball,” James said. “If they want to play the game, then they need to commit to it, and it’s so many great athletes here in China. There’s so many great kids here that [are] just inspired about the game of basketball, and if it’s something that they want to do, then they have to do it.
“I think it brings so much joy, it brings so much, I mean, fulfillment,” James continued. “The sport is so transcendent, it takes you places all over the world. It takes you places that you never thought that you would be at. It gives you a sense of joy. It’s just a beautiful game. It’s the most beautiful game in the world.
“And if there’s a kid out there that’s deciding should they play or should they not play, I would say then they should because I know how much happiness that is going to bring them in the long run,” James concluded.
This tour marked the 20th anniversary of James’ first Nike tour of Asia. This was the 15th time he had visited China, and none of this would have happened if not for basketball. The game has helped the 40-year-old fulfill all of his dreams growing up, and he is a billionaire today.
While James’ love for basketball hasn’t diminished over time, it doesn’t mean he’s got any interest in coaching once his playing career is over. The 21-time All-Star once again made it clear during this interview that he won’t become a coach in the future.
“No coaching for me,” James stated. “No, no, no. I was inspired by the game. I love the game, but I don’t have coaching in my future.”
James had previously stated he would never be a coach in the NBA on his Mind the Game podcast. He has a high basketball IQ, so you’d reckon he’d actually be a pretty good one if he tried his hand at coaching. He just isn’t keen on it, though, and he does have things lined up for life after retirement.
James heads up a massive business empire that he can focus on once he walks away from the game. He has also repeatedly spoken about wanting to own an NBA team in Las Vegas. The Lakers forward appears more interested in running the show as opposed to coaching.
As for when James retires, it is still unclear. He just averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game for the Lakers in 2024-25, his 22nd season in the NBA. It’s mind-boggling that he is playing at such a high level at this stage of his career, and he stated during this interview that age is just a number.
“Age doesn’t matter,” James said. “Age is just a number for sure. I definitely feel energetic. Anytime I’m out there on the floor, [I’m] just trying to give everything I got to my teammates and just go out there and win.”
James stated back in 2024 that he feels he can play at a high level for another five to seven years. He added, though, that he won’t be sticking around for that long. Retirement could well be on the cards in a couple of years.
