LeBron James recently got real candid about his future as a pro ball player.
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James Knows It's Almost Time to Give It Up
For all the talk around the league of the 39-year-old and his inevitable exit from the game, James has continued to show he is capable of hanging with the big dog's of today's NBA. Wednesday's win against the Grizzlies saw LeBron's third consecutive triple-double in a season where he is averaging 24.3 points, 9.4 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game on 52.4 percent shooting from the floor and 45.9 percent from beyond the arch.
In the past James has opened about hanging up his jersey, saying that for him it's all about the mental fortitude - "Wherever [his] mind is" will ultimately decide if he wants to keep it up. But on Wednesday he got a bit more realistic about his timeline.
"I'm not going to play that much longer to be completely honest," he told reporters. "I don't know how many years that is. If it's one year or two years, whatever the case may be. I said the other night, I'm not playing until the wheels fall off. I'm not going to be that guy. I'm not going to be the guy who is disrespecting the game because I just wanted to be out on the floor."
In many cases it wouldn't be farfetched to assume that an NBA player would call it quits after a 16-year career, especially one filled with the accolades LeBron James held up to that point. But for the four-time champion there's apparently more to strive for going into his 22nd year as a pro.
Shams: 'Next Season Could Potentially Be [LeBron's] Last Season in the NBA'
ESPN's Shams Charania stated on Thursday that he has "sense" that James' upcoming season would be his last, but the potential of playing with his son Bryce might keep him "around an extra year or two." James has already played long enough to make history with his eldest son and LA Lakers teammate, Bronny, as they became the first father-and-son duo to play together in the NBA.
There will certainly be more time for James to ponder and fans to speculate. For now, he will look to continue his high level of play as he chases the fifth championship of his career.
