Los Angeles Lakers superstar and future Hall of Famer LeBron James has hinted at his possible retirement for a few years now. The 40-year-old is still one of the top players in the NBA but knows his time in the league is running out.
Lakers’ LeBron James uncertain about future
However, the Lakers recently pulled off a stunning trade to acquire superstar guard Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis. The move gives Los Angeles two of the top offensive players in the league in James and Doncic and makes them formidable foes in the Western Conference.
During All-Star Weekend, James spoke about whether or not he had thought about extending his playing career solely because of the Doncic acquisition but stopped short of giving a definitive answer about his future.
“No I haven’t thought about that. Just the excitement to be able to add a caliber of player like that. It’s given me energy. Just excited to see what we can do…I think we can be really good going down the stretch,” James said (h/t Newsweek’s Matt Levine).
James’ playing career has already reached unprecedented marks. He has spent more than half of his life playing in the NBA, and at the age of 40 is still a legitimate MVP candidate. This season, he is averaging 24.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 9.0 assists. He was also named as an All-Star for the 21st time in his 22-year career.
While it seems like James will be able to play for an eternity, the reality is that at some point down the road, he will put an end to his long career.
Doncic and James could be an elite duo
Doncic, meanwhile, is just getting started in what is looking to be a Hall of Fame career. He is only 25-years-old and has already made All-NBA First Team five times, and he has been a perennial MVP candidate every season since his rookie year. He helped lead the Mavericks to a trip to the NBA Finals last year and has his eyes set on winning it all with Los Angeles.
The duo has the potential to be the most potent in the entire league, and if the Lakers can ink Doncic to a long-term contract, the torch will eventually be passed from James to Doncic when the former decides to finally call it a career.
The Lakers are 1-1 in the two games Doncic and James have played, with their next game coming on Wednesday, Feb. 19 against the Charlotte Hornets.