NEW YORK — LeBron James isn’t sure when he will retire — but he knows it will come soon.
James tied a career high with 40 points and nine 3-pointers as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 116-104 on Sunday at Barclays Center. James was asked how long he plans to continue playing in the NBA.
“It won’t be long,” James said. “Not for a long time. Obviously, I’m on the other side of the mountain. I won’t play another 21 years, that’s for sure. But not for a long time. I don’t know when that door will close and I don’t know when I will I will retire. But I don’t have much time left.”
LeBron James on how long he expects to continue playing in the NBA: “Not a long time. … I’m not going to play another 21 years, that’s for sure. But not a long time. I don’t know when that door is It will close, and I don’t know when I will retire. But I don’t have much time left.” pic.twitter.com/OtJzM6cheI
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Less than 30 minutes ago, the 39-year-old James performed well in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 points and hitting all four three-pointers, earning a standing ovation from the Lakers away fans.
Brooklyn cut Los Angeles’ lead to eight points, 90-82, with 11:42 left in the game. James hit consecutive three-pointers and four three-pointers in five minutes, widening the Lakers’ lead to 18 points midway through the fourth quarter.
“It’s incredible,” coach Daven Hamm said. “I told him in the crowd before he made his last sprint and we ended up taking him off. Big thanks to him for taking the cape on the road trip. Needed all nine three-pointers.”
In his 21st season, James is shooting a baffling career-high 41.6 percent from 3-point range, which is better than his previous career-high (40.6 with the Miami Heat in 2012-13). %) is 1 percentage point higher. James attributes his career year to being healthier — though he’s still technically battling peroneal tendinopathy in his left ankle — and being able to get more practice time and shooting reps on his off days.
“My foot feels better,” James said. “I didn’t have a lot of time last year to really enjoy reps because I had to make sure I could run up and down the floor or (not) put my feet on the floor. I had a lot of opportunities to make plays. … Just trying to Be consistent with my shooting, make the same shots every time. Just work. Just work work work work.”
Anthony Davis, who is in his fifth season playing alongside James, said that considering efficiency (90% from three-point range), field goal attempts (tying a career-high nine) and difficulty (with James) Nets game), he has never seen James shoot better than he did against the Nets. James took several off-balance, contested shots).
“It’s still surprising,” Davis said of James. “Like I said, the way he’s shooting, the way they’re running in the left corner on that side of the floor, I mean, he’s shooting one-on-one, he’s jumping in and shooting, he’s stepping back. I Meaning, he did everything from the 3-point line tonight. … It’s awesome to sit here and watch it all. He separated us.”
As for his future with the Lakers and the NBA, James has a $51.4 million player option for next season. This summer he will weigh five realistic options:
- Choose to sign a contract with the Lakers for next season.
- Opted to sign a three-year contract extension with the Lakers worth $164 million.
- Opted out and signed a contract extension with the Lakers for up to three years and worth $162 million.
- Opted out and signed with another team for three years, worth $157.5 million.
- Retire.
According to team and league sources, both James and the Lakers want him to retire with the Lakers.
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(Photo: Mike Stobbe/Getty Images)
