Lebron James: The Lakers star says that the last NBA season will be played with his son in an interview with The Athletic

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The star LeBron James talks about his sports future 1:03

(CNN) — Lebron James said that there are no certainties about his future in the NBA, although he is sure of one thing: he would like to play his last season with his son.

The 37-year-old Los Angeles Lakers forward is currently back in Cleveland for NBA All-Star weekend, the city where he spent 11 years in two cycles with the Cavaliers.

As he prepares to captain Team LeBron against Team [Kevin] Durant at the 71st All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday — his record 18th appearance — James said “the door isn’t closed” to a third pick in Cleveland.

“I’m not saying I’m going to come back and play, I don’t know,” James, who is a free agent after next season, told The Athletic Saturday.

“I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t even know when I’ll be free.”

James was all smiles during All Star practice on Saturday.

James was named the league’s rookie of the year in 2004 after being selected as the first overall pick by the Cavaliers, winning back-to-back Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in 2009 and 2010. before leaving to join the Miami Heat.

He returned to Cleveland in 2014, subsequently leading the franchise to its first championship two years later in another MVP-winning season.

Like father Like Son

In 2018 he left the Cavaliers again to sign with the Lakers, and now California has two Jameses: Lebron and his son, Bronny, who is 17 today.

A high school point guard, Bronny was ranked 43rd by ESPN in their class of 60 in 2023 with a four-star rating.

James’ second son, 14-year-old Bryce, is similarly rumored to be following in the footsteps of his father, who is already impressing at the high school level.

James of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a basket over Dirk Nowitzki during the All-Star Basketball Game in 2008.

Regardless of whether he returns to Cleveland, James said when his final season rolls around, he’ll play it alongside his eldest son “whatever it takes.”

“My senior year I’m going to play with my son,” James said. “Wherever Bronny is, that’s where I’ll be. I’ll do whatever it takes to play with my son for a year. It’s not about money at that point.”

It remains to be seen when the final season will be. At the age that James has enjoyed another stellar year despite a disappointing season for the Lakers, he sat ninth in the Western Conference with a losing record of 27-31.

James has starred despite the Lakers’ struggles this season.

At 29.1 points per game, however, James trails only Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the league this season, and last weekend he surpassed Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most combined. of regular and postseason points in NBA history.

James needed 19 points on the road against the Golden State Warriors to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 44,149, and he proceeded to sink 26 to come out on top with 44,157.

“I love basketball. I love being a part of the NBA and being able to inspire … so many different generations,” James said after breaking the record.

“In that sense, when you’re able to accomplish things individually, at some point I guess you’ll have a chance to sit down and think about it.”