LeBron James has confirmed his intention to continue playing basketball, announcing his decision during the 2023 ESPYS in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. Despite contemplating retirement following the Lakers’ playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals, James has now committed to entering his 21st season in the NBA.
By doing so, he joins a prestigious group of players, including Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, and Vince Carter, who holds the record with 22 seasons.
“I don’t care how many more points I score, or what I can or cannot do on the floor,” LeBron James said after accepting the ESPYS award for Best Record-Breaking Performance for passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time leading scorer.
“The real question for me is: Can I play without cheating this game? The day I can’t give everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done. Lucky for you guys, that day is not today.”
“The real question for me is: Can I play without cheating this game? The day I can’t give everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done. Lucky for you guys, that day is not today.”
LeBron
Savannah, LeBron James’ wife, presented him with the award while accompanied by their three children: Bronny, aged 18, Bryce, aged 16, and Zhuri, aged 8.
“Please welcome to the stage, the GOAT, respectfully, LeBron James,” Savannah said.
As December approaches, James, who will be turning 39, took the opportunity to contemplate how his children have been the driving force behind his enduring love for basketball.
Bronny Jr. is set to begin his freshman year playing for the USC basketball team starting in the fall. Bryce made a move to Campbell Hall High School, where he will be entering his junior season. Recently, James had the chance to coach Bryce’s AAU team, Strive For Greatness, during the Peach Jam tournament held in South Carolina.
2023 ESPYS: LeBron James coming back strong as 39-year-old
“Tonight, I want to use this moment to just say something that I’ve said a million times and I will never get sick of talking about it: I love this game. I love the game of basketball,” James said. “There’s a video going around right now on the internet of me coaching Bryce’s team last weekend and it’s actually pretty funny. I saw a lot of posts with people talking about, ‘LeBron brings the energy to a high school AAU game the same way he would do to a Finals game.’ And to me, that’s the ultimate compliment.
“In my 20 years playing this game and all the years before, I’ve never, ever cheated the game and I will never take it for granted.”
In the presence of former teammates Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, James expressed his unwavering commitment to the sport, placing him in the national spotlight for over two decades.
“Every time I step foot on the floor, either coaching my boys, or playing, I want to give it everything. I do it for myself,” James said. “I do it for some of my teammates that I’ve had before and now. And I do it for all the greats that came before me. And more importantly — or most importantly — I do it for the fans, the lovers of the game.
“Listen, you can love me — and I know some of you hate me as well — but the one thing you will always do is respect me and appreciate the way I approach the game and what I’ve given to this game.”
LeBron James has contemplated retiring lately
After scoring 40 points and playing the entire 48 minutes in the Lakers’ Game 4 defeat against the Nuggets, James shared his thoughts, stating that he needed to contemplate whether he wanted to keep playing.
“When the season ended, I said I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep playing,” James said. “And I know a lot of experts told you guys what I said but I’m here now speaking for myself. In that moment, I’m asking myself if I can still play without cheating the game — can I give everything to the game still? The truth is, I’ve been asking myself this question at the end of the season for a couple years now. I just never openly talked about it.”
James also continued to distance himself from his prior wish to play on the same NBA team as one or both of his sons, saying, “They’re on their own basketball journey and no matter how far they choose to go, they’re not cheating the game. And that inspires me.”
In short, LeBron James heartened fans during the 2023 ESPYS that he will return.
“You know what brings me back every year? It’s watching and coaching my boys and their teammates,” he said. “I see those kids and it brings me right back to why I play. Those kids get me back to where I need to be, just the pure love of his beautiful game.
“So, yeah, I still got something left. A lot left. I love you all and thank you so much for watching this journey so far.”
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