LOS ANGELES — There was no brooding from LeBron James at Lakers media day.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
The 40-year-old who expressed so much uncertainty about his future with the franchise in late June, and wasn’t offered a contract beyond this season in the talks with team officials which preceded that revealing messaging, beamed with all the joy of a starstruck rookie as he spent his time on the press conference podium. He toted his massive energy drink jug around as if it was a school box, joked with reporters in between thoughtful answers and acted like he was genuinely thrilled and grateful to be there.
All of which is great for the Lakers when it comes to this season ahead, as their only path to true title contention is with James buying in and being at his oldie-but-goodie best.
But there was no retirement announcement from James, which — for now, at least — would seem to indicate that the notion of playing next season is still in play. And considering the prickliness with which he picked up the player option on his deal for this coming campaign, all while Luka Doncic’s ascension with the Lakers was formalized by his long-term extension, this uncomfortable question remains: Is James’ long-stated goal of retiring with the Lakers still even an option?
The answer, for now at least, is that no one truly knows. Not the Lakers, whose dedication to keeping their financial books flexible for future star-player pursuits was at the root of the choice to force James into the last year of his deal (for the first time in his 23-year career, no less). They were ready to spend an entire season celebrating him on a retirement tour, but had no interest in committing a max-salary slot (again) for years to come to a player of his advanced age — no matter how great. And now James, whose unprecedented ability to remain at an All-NBA level — especially if it continues — is applying all sorts of pressure to the Lakers’ calculus.
Amid all the moments of positivity from James, it was worth noting that his most curt answer came after he was asked about those offseason comments from his longtime agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul. After all, Paul made it clear that James had concerns about the Lakers’ ability to be legitimate contenders with their roster at the time. Since then, general manager Rob Pelinka added a former Defensive Player of the Year in Marcus Smart, a former No. 1 pick (with plenty to prove) in Deandre Ayton, and an on-the-rise young big man in Jake LaRavia (while also giving extension to Doncic and second-year coach J.J. Redick).
“Yeah, I’m excited about getting to work, and I’m excited about (seeing) what we can do,” James said with a rare void of expression.
When it comes to what comes next for James, it seems as if nearly every scenario is still likely in play. This Lakers situation is fluid in that way, with their ability or inability to surpass expectations having an inevitable domino effect on how he and the Lakers feel about their relationship. There’s a make-good feel to this for both sides, one that could yield good results if it’s handled in a deft enough way. Or, as was the case when Kobe Bryant announced his retirement with his ‘Dear Basketball’ letter on Nov. 29, 2015, maybe James gets a few months in and decides this is the end of his basketball road.
Clarity about how his final chapter ends will come one of these days. Until then, as James made clear, he’ll be opting for the holistic — and happy-for-now — approach.
“It’s pretty cool to…know how many miles I’ve got as far as this game in my 22 years, now starting 23 years, and to still be able to play at a high level, to be able still to be able to go out there and can make plays and be (respected) on the floor,” James said. “(It’s) just super humbling and gratifying. I love to play the game. I love to play at a high level. And for me, age is kind of just a number. But it’s reality too, though. I mean, you look at the history of the game and there has not been many guys at my age, or especially going into year 23, that’s been able to play at a level like that. I just try to not take it for granted and just try to give the game as much as I can (and) inspire whoever I can.”
(Photo of LeBron James by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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