LeBron: 'I would love' to end career with Lakers
If LeBron James has his way, he'll end his illustrious career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
"I would love for it to end here. That would be the plan," James told reporters Monday, including The Athletic's Jovan Buha. "I came here to play my last stage of my career and to finish it off here.
"But I'm also not silly or too jaded and know the business of the game as well. ... My relationship with this organization speaks for itself. Hopefully, I don't have to go nowhere before my career is over."
The Lakers signed James in free agency six years ago. The four-time Finals MVP has led the club to four playoff appearances in the previous six campaigns, including a championship run in 2020.
James has inked multiple contract extensions to remain in Los Angeles. He can hit free agency next summer if he declines his $52.6-million player option for 2025-26.
James, who turned 40 on Monday, said earlier this year that he doesn't have much time left in the league. The Lakers superstar recently surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time leader in regular-season play.
James doesn't know when he'll call it a career but vows to stay retired for good whenever he decides to.
"I'd probably play this game at a high level about another ... five-to-seven years if I wanted to," James said. "But I'm not gonna do that."