LeBron James says he hopes to end career as member of Lakers

INDIANAPOLIS — LeBron James, speaking before his record 20th NBA All-Star Game appearance, stated the obvious Sunday when he said he was much closer to the end of his stellar career than the beginning.

Although James, 39, says he doesn't have a specific plan in place for what the final stage of his playing days will look like, he said he has one preference: dressing for the purple and gold as a member of the team. The Los Angeles Lakers.

“I'm a Laker and I'm happy and I've been very happy to be a Laker for the last six years and I hope it stays that way,” James said. “But I don't have the answer as to how long or what uniform I'll wear. I hope [it] is with the Lakers. It’s a big organization, there are so many big guys. But we'll see.”

James arrived at All-Star Weekend on Sunday, rather than Saturday like the rest of the All-Stars, because he was seeking treatment on the left ankle that caused him to miss Los Angeles' final game before the break – a win by 138-122. against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.

“I'm trying to get my ankle as strong and get it back to where I feel confident that I can finish that last third of the season,” James said. “I won't play the whole game tonight, that's for sure. I can go out and run a little bit with the kids, then stop it at some point to give my body, and more importantly my ankle, some another opportunity to rest.

James said he will leave Indianapolis to travel to receive more medical treatment on his left ankle before Los Angeles' next game Thursday on the road against the Golden State Warriors.

“The most important thing for me is definitely my health, where I am right now, where our team is leaning,” James said. “We are going in the right direction.

“Obviously with our Laker team, it's been all about health all year. I'm trying to do what's best for me for the good of the team.”

It's a big endorsement from James for his team, which has won six of its last seven. Just a few weeks ago, he posted a cryptic hourglass emoji on social media in the middle of the night and said he didn't know what he would do with his player option for the 2024-25 season – which would do it. his 22nd in the championship.

James' apparent displeasure motivated Draymond Green to encourage Warriors owner Joe Lacob to call Lakers owner Jeanie Buss to inquire about trading the four-time champion, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne from ESPN.

Buss, according to the ESPN report, asked Lacob to speak to James' agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, to discuss the star's desire to be traded. Buss places importance on his star players feeling satisfied with the franchise, according to the report. Paul rebuffed Lacob's business attempt, informing him that his client was not interested.

His comments about being “happy” on Sunday were certainly a public way of answering any lingering questions Buss might have about James' state of mind.

Appearing on set with the hosts of TNT's “Inside the NBA” before the alert, James said he was unaware of the Warriors' attempt.

“I actually heard about it when everyone else heard about it,” James said. “Sometimes there are conversations that go on behind closed doors that you don't even know about. And I guess until it's real or not, they'll bring it to you. But that doesn't matter to me. 'never even made it.”

James also told “Inside” that his oldest son, Bronny James, has not yet determined whether he will enter the NBA draft at the end of his freshman season at USC.

“It’s up to him, it’s up to the child,” James said. “We're going to go through the whole process. He's still in season now. He's got the Pac-12 tournament coming up. … We're going to weigh all the options and we're going to let the kid make that decision.”

TNT's Kenny Smith joked that Bronny wouldn't feel pressure to leave college early to earn an NBA salary given his family's wealth, and James laughed, saying, “It's definitely not financial.

James' immediate challenge in Los Angeles is to ensure that, at 30-26 and currently No. 9 in the Western Conference, the Lakers secure a playoff spot. Beyond that, he reiterated his intention to play for Team USA in the Paris Olympics this summer.

“I told myself before the season, when I committed to making the Olympic team, that obviously it all depends on my health,” he said. “As it stands right now, I’m healthy enough to be a part of the team and perform at a level that I knew I could perform at.”

James said when he plays his final NBA season, the pomp and circumstance surrounding that transition is yet to be determined.

“I was asked this question a few days ago,” James said. “'Do you want to kind of do the farewell tour, or are you going to kind of just Tim Duncan?'

“I'm 50-50, I'll be honest, because there are times where I feel like I owe it to my fans who have been on this journey with me for over two decades, to be able to give them that time where it's in every city and whatever the case is and they give you your flowers or whatever the case is. That sounds cool.

“But on the other hand, I've never been so good at accepting such praise. It's a strange feeling for me.”

It will also be a strange feeling for everyone associated with the NBA.

“I don’t know how it’s going to end, but it’s happening,” James said. “It definitely happens.”