Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James uncertain over what comes next in his career

2026-02-15T232743Z_406872545_MT1USATODAY28248569_RTRMADP_3_NBA-75TH-ALL-STAR-GAME-1024x683 Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James uncertain over what comes next in his career
SPORTS-WIDE-BANNER-V3B-PLAYRESPONSIBLY-1870x350-1-1024x192 Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James uncertain over what comes next in his career

LeBron James admits he has no clear idea whether this season — his record 23rd in the NBA — will be his last, though the superstar already has several ambitions lined up for life after basketball.

The 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers forward spoke on Sunday ahead of the NBA All-Star Game, acknowledging that his future beyond the current campaign remains uncertain.

“Yeah, I want to live,” James said when asked about his post-season plans. “When I know, you guys know. I don’t know. I have no idea. I just want to live, that’s all.”

James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time Most Valuable Player, insisted that questions about retirement will not distract him from chasing another championship. A fifth NBA title would further cement the legacy of “King James” in one of the most decorated careers the league has seen.

“This is the beginning of the post-season push, so it has nothing to do with that,” he said. “Same motivation, same mindset. We’ve gone through the marathon — now the sprint is about to start. I think everybody understands that.”


James is averaging 22.0 points, 7.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game this season for the Lakers, who sit fifth in the Western Conference with a 33-21 record.

After battling sciatica earlier in the campaign, James emphasized that health will be decisive in determining how far Los Angeles can go — particularly in a season disrupted by injuries to key players, including star guard Luka Dončić.

“Our success is going to come down to our health and our coaching staff putting us in the right position,” James said.

“They’re going to give us the game plan every night. But when it comes to what we have available, we have to go out there and execute it. We just haven’t had much continuity this year.”


While retirement remains undecided, James has previously expressed interest in becoming an NBA franchise owner once his playing days are over. Still, that is only one of several possibilities he is considering.

“There’s a lot of things on the table that I can tap into if I’d like to — that being one of them,” James said of potential ownership.

“There are other ventures I’ll continue to explore and see what engages me and motivates me in a post-career. But right now, I’m still locked in on the present.”

Whatever direction he ultimately chooses over the next decade, James made clear that family will be central to his plans.

“What I want to do at 45, 50 or 55 is create great vibes and have fun with my family and my friends,” he said. “That’s one of my passions — building memories that last forever.

“That’s the most important thing for me. Creating moments we’ll never forget. I’m really looking forward to that.”

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