The Los Angeles Lakers have LeBron James on the roster for at least one more season. Beyond that, there’s no clear path for him to remain with the team. The key factor is that he still wants to compete for championships.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
However, Lakers insider Jovan Buha believes there is a possibility—albeit a long shot—that James could leave LA during the season.
“I think one thing that could shift this potentially to a 75/25 is asking, ‘is this LeBron’s last season?’ How important is it getting the swan song in L.A. and finishing his legacy as a Laker, or competing for a championship. Two things would have to happen, in my opinion, for this to drastically change. He announces he’s retiring after this year, and then the Lakers are, for whatever reason, underperforming around the deadline,” Buha wrote.
With retirement on the horizon, there’s speculation about what James’ next steps could be. One potential path is coaching. James is known for his high basketball IQ and elite court vision. However, he seems to have already made up his mind.
“No,” LeBron said definitively regarding the coaching question.
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James appears to have shut that down quickly and will more than likely enjoy time with his family. He has carried the NBA on his shoulders for over two decades, and now it’s time to watch his sons and daughter excel in their sports. While James would make a great coach, it doesn’t seem to be on his bucket list of things to do after retirement.
