LEBRON James has expressed his lack of concern over his contract situation with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 40-year-old’s latest comments on his contract come after making a final retirement decision ahead of his 23rd season in the NBA.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James looks on during a 2024-25 game[/caption]
For the first time in James’ eight seasons with the Lakers, he will enter a campaign on an expiring contract.
But the 21-time All-Star said his contract situation will not play a part in his performance this season.
“It will have no impact,” James told ESPN.
“I’m super excited about the challenges and the excitement of our team.
“We added some new guys.
“We got another year under our belt with our coaching staff from last year.
“Got a full year with Luka [Doncic] and another year with the guys that I’ve been with.
“So super excited about that.“
James added that the contract situation “doesn’t bother me at all” and that he’s “super humbled to even have a contract and be able to play the game that I love still at this part of my career and take full advantage of it.”
James exercised his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season back in June.
The upcoming campaign will be James’ second playing alongside his oldest son, Bronny.
They became the first father-son duo to play on the court in NBA history.
While LeBron hasn’t shared when he’ll leave the game, he did explain that he will not delay his retirement plans in order to play with his second-oldest son, Bryce James.
“I’m not sitting here. No, I’m not waiting on Bryce,” James said. “I don’t know what his timeline is.”
LeBron made NBA history last season as he played alongside his son, Bronny[/caption]
“He’s his own young man now. He’s down in Tucson.
“We’ll see what happens this year, next year, you know, but he has his own timeline.
“I got my timeline.
“And I don’t know if they quite match up.”
At the age of 40, LeBron, who is the oldest active player in the league, said that he will monitor his mental being and how his body will react to day-to-day activities as he ponders retirement in the future.
“For me, it’s just, am I still excited about the process? Do I still get motivated about the process every single year?” James told ESPN.
“Preparing my body. Preparing my mind.
“Working on my body, training, things of that nature, to get ready for a full season.
“I think once I kind of fall out of love with the process, then I’ll know for sure. Then, it’d probably be the end for me.”
