Putting an end to all conjectures surrounding his future, LeBron James, the renowned NBA superstar, quashed all rumours on Wednesday noting that he is not prepared to hang up his jersey just yet and remains deeply passionate about the game.
After the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the eventual champions Denver in the Western Conference final last May, James reacted by admitting that he had ‘a lot to think about.’ Uncertainty had been ignited with reports swirling about his potential exit from the sport.
Dispelling any concerns about his potential retirement, James put all doubts to rest during his speech at the ESPY awards ceremony on Wednesday, assuring everyone that he is far from being ready to walk away from the game.
Upon accepting the award for Best Record-Breaking Performance, James made a statement acknowledging his achievement of surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time leading scorer. His words: ‘I don’t care how many more points I score, or what I can or cannot do on the floor,’
‘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,’ he added.
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‘In my 20 years playing this game and all the years before, I’ve never, ever cheated the game and I will never take it for granted,’ he said.
With his 39th birthday approaching in December, James refuted speculations that he aimed to play in the NBA alongside his sons. Although his eldest son, Bronny James, is preparing to embark on his college basketball journey at the University of Southern California and could potentially enter the NBA in the 2024-2025 season, James clarified that his plans do not involve overlapping with his son’s career.
However, James acknowledged that coaching his sons has played a significant role in keeping his enthusiasm for the game alive.
‘You know what brings me back every year? It’s watching and coaching my boys and their teammates,’ he said.
‘I see those kids and it brings me right back to why I play. Those kids get me back to where I need to be, just the pure love of this beautiful game.’
‘So, yeah, I still got something left. A lot left,’ James added.
In the aftermath of the defeat to the Nuggets, James delved into his reflective process, acknowledging that he has a habit of questioning himself in such situations.
‘When the season ended, I said I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep playing and I know a lot of experts told you guys what I said but I’m here now speaking for myself.’
‘In that moment, I’m asking myself if I can still play without cheating the game — can I give everything to the game still? The truth is, I’ve been asking myself this question at the end of the season for a couple years now. I just never openly talked about it,’ he said.
James and the Lakers reached a two-year contract extension agreement in August, cementing his tenure at the club until the end of the 2024-2025 season.