LeBron James has admitted that retirement could soon be on the cards despite agreeing to a new $104 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 39-year-old basketball legend has extended his stay in Los Angeles after being joined there by his son Bronny, who was selected by the Lakers with the 55th pick in the second round of last month’s NBA Draft.
Just days after Bronny’s historic moment, reports emerged claiming that his father had also signed new terms with the franchise after opting out of the final year of his previous contract.
LeBron is now set to remain a Lakers player for the next two years and make history by forming the NBA’s first father-son duo with his eldest son.
However, he has also dropped a major hint that this deal could prove to be his last as an NBA player.
LeBron James admitted that retiring soon could be on the cards despite his new contract with the Lakers
When he asked me ESPN’s Dave McMenamin If that could be the case, LeBron replied, ‘I mean it could be.’
“I would never sit here and say, ‘Oh, eh, maybe not.'”
—Yes, it could be. Easily. But we’ll see what happens.
Bronny enters the NBA with enormous pressure on his shoulders as the son of one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
However, the 19-year-old is not expected to reach the same heights as his father, after only playing one year of college basketball at USC.
However, according to LeBron, his son is getting a weapon that he was missing when he first came on the scene.
LeBron has agreed to a new $104 million contract in Los Angeles after being joined there by his son Bronny (left)
But the 39-year-old basketball legend still admits he may be in his twilight years as a player.
“I don’t know if people really understand Bronny,” the four-time NBA champion said. “He doesn’t care. I actually kinda care.”
“When I came in (as a rookie), I wanted people to like me and some of the things people said about me bothered me early in my career… he doesn’t give a shit.
“He doesn’t care about anyone. He doesn’t even listen to that stuff. He’s the coolest. He’s the complete opposite of his father.
“His father will say something (to respond to the criticism). Bro doesn’t care… everything that is said about him, he really doesn’t care.”